Fructose content of low calorie diets: effect on cardiometabolic risk factors in obese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a randomized controlled trial
Open accessAbstract
We aimed to examine whether a whole-grain crispbread (CB) low-fructose, low-calorie diet (LCD) might be superior to a traditional LCD based on fructose-rich liquid meal replacements (LMRs) with respect to improvement of various cardiometabolic risk factors and reproductive hormones. Parallel-group randomised controlled clinical trial. Morbidly obese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) were randomised to either an 8-week CB-LCD or LMR-LCD (900–1100 kcal/day, fructose 17 g/day or 85 g/day). A total of 51 women completed the study. Body weight, fat mass and waist circumference reduced by mean ( s.d. ) 10.0 (4.8) kg, 7.4 (4.2) kg and 8.5 (4.4) cm, with no significant differences between groups. Total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and Apo-A1 were significantly reduced within both groups (all P values <0.01), with no significant between-group differences. The triacylglycerol and LDL-cholesterol levels were reduced within the LMR group only, with no significant between-group differences. Blood pressure and most measures of glucose metabolism improved significantly in both diet groups, with no significant between-group difference. Uric acid levels rose by 17.7 (46.4) and 30.6 (71.5) μmol/l in the CB and LMR group, respectively, with no significant difference between groups. Gastrointestinal discomfort was significantly and equally reduced in both intervention groups. Free testosterone index was reduced in both groups, with no significant difference between groups. Morbidly obese women with PCOS who underwent either an 8-week low or high-fructose LCD-diet had similar changes in various cardiometabolic risk factors and reproductive hormones. Registration at ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT00779571.
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Johnson et al. found no significant differences in weight loss or metabolic changes between a low-energy fructose-rich diet and a standard low-energy diet.
“In studies examining fructose’s effects on PCOS, Johnson et al. found no significant differences in weight loss or metabolic changes between a low-energy fructose-rich diet and a standard low-energy diet.”
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- Authors
- Johnson, L. K., Holven, K. B., Nordstrand, N., Mellembakken, J. R., Tanbo, T., & Hjelmesæth, J.
- Affiliations
- Oslo University Hospital (NO)
- Corresponding author
- Johnson, Line K
- Venue
- Endocrine Connections
- Publisher
- Bioscientifica
- Published
- 2015-09
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 144-154
- ISSN
- 2049-3614 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4488759
- OpenAlex
- W2292420491
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4
- FWCI
- 2.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Endocrine Connections (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian function and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diet, Metabolism, and Disease
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
- Keywords
- fructose, hypocaloric diet, polycystic ovary syndrome, morbid obesity, cardiometabolic risk factors, weight loss, lipid profile, uric acid, free testosterone, glucose metabolism, blood pressure, gastrointestinal discomfort
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