REVIEW   

Minerva Endocrinology 2022 June;47(2):215-41

DOI: 10.23736/S2724-6507.21.03349-6

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Polycystic ovary syndrome and obesity: clinical aspects and nutritional management

Evelyn FRIAS-TORAL ^{1, 2} ✉, Eloisa GARCIA-VELASQUEZ ³, Maria de los ANGELES CARIGNANO ⁴, Dolores RODRIGUEZ-VEINTIMILLA ⁵, Irene ALVARADO-AGUILERA ⁶, Noemi BAUTISTA-LITARDO ⁷

¹ Research Committee, SOLCA Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador; ² Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador; ³ Clinical Nutrition Service, San Francisco Clinic Hospital, Guayaquil, Ecuador; ⁴ Nutritional Support Service, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; ⁵ Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Service, SOLCA Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador; ⁶ Espiritu Santo University, Guayaquil, Ecuador; ⁷ Endocrinology Service, SOLCA Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial endocrine and metabolic disorder characterized by androgen excess, oligo-anovulatory infertility, polycystic ovaries in ultrasound examination, insulin resistance, and cardiometabolic disorders, with overweight/obesity and visceral adiposity. This review aims to provide an overview of the clinical characteristics and nutritional therapy of PCOS and obesity. The authors analyzed the updated and relevant publications found on PubMed about clinical aspects and nutritional management of PCOS and obesity in studies done in animal and human models. It is crucial an early detection and intervention in PCOS patients to avoid the more challenging control of the onset of more impaired-health conditions that this pathology causes. It is presented evidence that clearly shows the close interaction among oxidative stress, low-grade inflammation, and PCOS. It is also analyzed the relevance of treating metabolic and nutritional correlations of PCOS with a complete therapeutic strategy that includes individualized medication, diet, and healthy habits. By an integral approach and treatment that includes not only medications for PCOS symptoms, supplementation of minerals and vitamins to control PCOS complications but an anti-inflammatory diet, nutritional education, exercise individualized program, lifestyle changes, it is possible to improve insulin resistance, sustained weight loss, ovulation rates, among other goals for the management of this disease. Further studies are needed to clarify mechanisms, beneficial effects, and doses of supplements and precise medication to determine the best combination of diets and exercise programs according to these patients’ specific requirements.

KEY WORDS: Polycystic ovary syndrome; Oxidative stress; Obesity; Hyperandrogenism; Insulin resistance; Life style