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Cited by 34Ovarian function and disordersDiabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and LipoproteinsDiet, Metabolism, and Disease

The effect of low glycemic index diet on the reproductive and clinical profile in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Saadati, Najmieh, Haidari, Fatemeh, Barati, Mojgan, Nikbakht, Roshan, Mirmomeni, Golshan, Rahim, Fakher·2021·Heliyon
DOI 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08338PMC PMC8600081
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Abstract

Background Treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) usually initiates with a series of lifestyle modifications such as diet, weight loss, and exercise. Aims We, therefore, conducted this meta-analysis to systematically review and evaluate the possible benefits of LGD on a range of anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical parameters in women with PCOS. Methods We performed a systematic search through major indexing databases, including Scopus, Pubmed/Medline, ISI web of science, Embase, Cochrane central, and CINAHL (1966–April 30, 2021) using key concepts of PCOS. Results Of 935 initial publications, 542 remain after duplicates removal. Then, 141 records were removed at the title and abstract screening level. After excluding 392 literatures, we finally included 8 articles. The final selected studies included 412 overweight and obese individuals with PCOS (207 cases in LGID group and 205 patients in comparators) with a mean age of 21–32 years. Measured emotional health (3 studies, 132 participants, SMD: -1.97; 95%CI:-3.54, -0.40, P = 0.01, I 2 = 89%) and body hair (3 studies, 132 participants, SMD: -0.40; 95%CI:-0.46, -0.35, P < 0.0001, I 2 = 0%), were found to be significantly lower in women in LGD vs control diet groups. Moreover, infertility (3 studies, 132 participants, SMD: 1.45; 95%CI: 0.30, 2.61, P = 0.01, I 2 = 79%) was significantly higher in women in LGD vs control diet groups. Conclusion The present meta-analysis has shown that LGD may play a significant role in reducing the risk and improving the clinical and biochemical features of PCOS. So far the evidences for choosing the best dietary modalities for PCOS are not strong to make a definite recommendation.

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  • Lower glycemic index plays a significant role in reducing the risk and improving the clinical and biochemical features of PCOS.

    “In contrast a systematic search through major indexing databases, including Scopus, Pubmed/Medline, ISI web of science, Embase, Cochrane central, and CINAHL (1966–30 April 2021) shows that lower glycemic index play a significant role in reducing the risk and improving the clinical and biochemical features of PCOS [25].”

    From Dietary Patterns and Metabolic and Hormonal Parameters in Women with Suspected PCOS (2025) · cites this paper as [25]

    The Discussion and Conclusion (page numbers not provided) link a low-glycemic diet to reduced risk and improved clinical and biochemical features of PCOS. The citing sentence states this as a definite effect, whereas the paper says the diet 'may' or 'can' play this role and cautions that evidence is not strong enough for definite dietary recommendations. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Saadati, N., Haidari, F., Barati, M., Nikbakht, R., Mirmomeni, G., & Rahim, F.
Affiliations
Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (IR)
Corresponding author
Rahim, Fakher
ORCID
Venue
Heliyon
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-11
Volume
7
Issue
11
Pages
e08338
ISSN
2405-8440 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08338
PMC
PMC8600081
OpenAlex
W3212382123
Cited by
34
References
11
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1
FWCI
0.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Heliyon (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Kocaeli Üniversitesi - AVESİS (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (FIRC-0017)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian function and disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diet, Metabolism, and Disease
Keywords
polycystic ovary syndrome, low glycemic index diet, infertility, hirsutism, emotional well-being, obesity, overweight women, lifestyle modification, dietary intervention

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