Effects of a ketogenic diet in women with PCOS with different uric acid concentrations: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Research question: Do overweight/obese women with PCOS with different uric acid concentrations show different effects after a ketogenic diet intervention?

Design: The study involved women with PCOS with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥24 kg/m². Groups showing different uric acid concentrations were given ketogenic diet guidance for 12 weeks. Weight, BMI, body fat percentage, fasting blood glucose, triacylglyerols, total cholesterol, uric acid and other metabolism-related indexes were measured.

Results: After 12 weeks of the ketogenic diet intervention, body weight (hyperuricaemia group: P=0.001; non-hyperuricaemia group: P<0.001), BMI (hyperuricaemia group: P = 0.025; non-hyperuricaemia group: P<0.001) and body fat percentage (hyperuricaemia group: P<0.001; non-hyperuricaemia group: P<0.001) were decreased in both groups. There was greater weight loss in the non-hyperuricaemia group (hyperuricaemia group 11.2±4.6 kg versus non-hyperuricaemia group 14.7±4.8 kg; P < 0.05). In the non-hyperuricaemia group, uric acid concentrations increased significantly after 6 weeks of the ketogenic diet intervention (week 0: 5.69±0.84 mg/dl versus week 6: 8.41 ± 2.33 mg/dl; P < 0.001) and reached the concentrations of the hyperuricaemia group (week 6: 9.37 ± 2.43 mg/dl; P > 0.05).

Conclusions: A ketogenic diet intervention is beneficial for overweight/obese women with PCOS with different serum uric acid concentrations. Participants with normal basal uric acid concentrations showed a greater fluctuation of serum uric acid concentrations during the ketogenic diet intervention and had a greater weight loss.

Keywords: Amenorrhoea; Body weight; Hyperuricaemia; Ketogenic diet; Polycystic ovary syndrome.