Fructose content of low calorie diets: effect on cardiometabolic risk factors in obese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Line K Johnson; Kirsten B Holven; Njord Nordstrand; Jan R Mellembakken; Tom Tanbo; Jøran Hjelmesæth

doi:10.1530/EC-15-0047

Fructose content of low calorie diets: effect on cardiometabolic risk factors in obese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Endocr Connect. 2015 Sep;4(3):144-54. doi: 10.1530/EC-15-0047.

Authors

Line K Johnson¹, Kirsten B Holven², Njord Nordstrand³, Jan R Mellembakken³, Tom Tanbo², Jøran Hjelmesæth²

Affiliations

¹ Morbid Obesity CentreVestfold Hospital Trust, PO Box 2168, 3103 Tønsberg, NorwayDepartment of NutritionInstitute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1046 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, NorwayNorwegian National Advisory Unit on Familial HypercholesterolemiaDepartment of Endocrinology, Morbid Obesity and Preventive MedicineDepartment of GynecologyOslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, PO Box 4950 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, NorwayInstitute of Clinical MedicineDepartment of EndocrinologyMorbid Obesity and Preventive Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, PO Box 1171 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway line.kristin.johnson@siv.no.
² Morbid Obesity CentreVestfold Hospital Trust, PO Box 2168, 3103 Tønsberg, NorwayDepartment of NutritionInstitute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1046 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, NorwayNorwegian National Advisory Unit on Familial HypercholesterolemiaDepartment of Endocrinology, Morbid Obesity and Preventive MedicineDepartment of GynecologyOslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, PO Box 4950 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, NorwayInstitute of Clinical MedicineDepartment of EndocrinologyMorbid Obesity and Preventive Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, PO Box 1171 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway Morbid Obesity CentreVestfold Hospital Trust, PO Box 2168, 3103 Tønsberg, NorwayDepartment of NutritionInstitute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1046 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, NorwayNorwegian National Advisory Unit on Familial HypercholesterolemiaDepartment of Endocrinology, Morbid Obesity and Preventive MedicineDepartment of GynecologyOslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, PO Box 4950 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, NorwayInstitute of Clinical MedicineDepartment of EndocrinologyMorbid Obesity and Preventive Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, PO Box 1171 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway.
³ Morbid Obesity CentreVestfold Hospital Trust, PO Box 2168, 3103 Tønsberg, NorwayDepartment of NutritionInstitute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1046 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, NorwayNorwegian National Advisory Unit on Familial HypercholesterolemiaDepartment of Endocrinology, Morbid Obesity and Preventive MedicineDepartment of GynecologyOslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, PO Box 4950 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, NorwayInstitute of Clinical MedicineDepartment of EndocrinologyMorbid Obesity and Preventive Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, PO Box 1171 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: PCOS; cardiometabolic risk-factors; fructose; low calorie diets; obesity; weight loss.

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00779571