Fact checked by Nick Blackmer
New research found that women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) may experience weight loss and fertility benefits from a ketogenic diet.
These effects may largely be tied to the keto diet’s ability to stabilize blood sugar levels, a key issue for most PCOS patients.
Experts recommend women with PCOS speak to a healthcare professional before making any drastic dietary changes.
Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome may experience weight loss and increased rates of fertility by following a ketogenic diet, but not all experts recommend going to such extremes.
The keto diet has grown in popularity for its general weight loss benefits. The low-carb lifestyle has also been tied to benefits for people with diabetes and other endocrine disorders. Most recently, experts have looked at keto in relation to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
A new study, published this month in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, found that going on a high-fat, low-carb diet may benefit women with PCOS regarding weight management and fertility.
PCOS is the most common hormone disorder in women, affecting 8–13% of reproductive-aged women.
The study found that women who followed a keto diet for at least 45 days not only had significant weight loss but also experienced improved reproductive hormone levels. On average, their ratio of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was lower, increasing their chances of ovulating—and, therefore, of conceiving.
These effects may be partly due to a ketogenic diet’s ability to stabilize blood sugar, a major player in the diagnosis of PCOS.
“Low-carb diets [for PCOS] don’t have to be as extreme as keto, but any form of carbohydrate reduction…will lower insulin levels, if that nutritional approach can be adhered to long-term,” Rekha Kumar, MD, Chief Medical Officer at medically-assisted weight loss program Found and practicing endocrinologist in New York City told Health.
“When insulin levels are lowered, the ovary will function more normally and menstruation and ovulation can be restored,” she said. “It is not always so straightforward, but it can happen.”
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