Dietary pattern in women with polycystic ovary syndrome with and without associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study

Thais Cristine Moura Guimarães; Daniela Oliveira de Lima Taranto; Claudia Alves Couto; Mateus Jorge Nardelli; Ana Lucia Cândido; Cristina de Almeida Hott; Lucilene Rezende Anastácio; Fernando M Reis; Ana Luiza Lunardi Rocha; Luciana Costa Faria

doi:10.1016/j.clinsp.2023.100288

Dietary pattern in women with polycystic ovary syndrome with and without associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study

Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2023 Dec 4:78:100288. doi: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2023.100288. eCollection 2023.

Affiliations

¹ Pós-Graduação em Ciências Aplicadas à Saúde do Adulto, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
² Pós-Graduação em Ciências Aplicadas à Saúde do Adulto, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Serviço de Diagnóstico por Imagem do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
³ Pós-Graduação em Ciências Aplicadas à Saúde do Adulto, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Ambulatório de Doença Hepática Gordurosa Não Alcoólica, Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
⁴ Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Ambulatório de Doença Hepática Gordurosa Não Alcoólica, Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
⁵ Departamento de Alimentos, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
⁶ Ambulatório de Hiperandrogenismo, Serviço de Endocrinologia, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
⁷ Pós-Graduação em Ciências Aplicadas à Saúde do Adulto, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Ambulatório de Doença Hepática Gordurosa Não Alcoólica, Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: lucostafaria@hotmail.com.

Abstract

Introduction: Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) have a higher prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) than the general population. PCOS and NAFLD have common metabolic risk factors, however, the role of diet in NAFLD development is still uncertain in PCOS women.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the dietary patterns and nutritional intake in patients with PCOS with and without NAFLD.

Method: Cross-sectional study that included patients with PCOS diagnosed according to Rotterdam criteria. All participants were submitted to abdominal ultrasound to investigate liver steatosis. Dietary profile was assessed by 24-hour food recall (24hR), and Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Diet quality was assessed by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) adapted for the Brazilian population. Physical activity practice was also assessed.

Results: 87 participants were included (average age 35.2 ± 5.7 years), among whom, 67 (77%) had NAFLD. The group with PCOS and NAFLD presented higher body mass index (BMI) (34.9 ± 4.5 vs. 30.4 ± 4.9 kg/m2; p = 0.001), Waist Circumference (WC) (103 [97‒113] vs. 95 [87.5‒100] cm; p < 0.001) and were considered physically active less frequently than those without NAFLD (34.3% vs. 60%; p = 0.04). Food intake and dietary patterns assessed by 24hR, FFQ and HEI presented no difference between the groups.

Conclusions: PCOS women with coexistent NAFLD had higher BMI, WC and were less physically active than those without NAFLD. Dietary evaluation showed that PCOS women with NAFLD had no significant difference in macro and micronutrients or food group intake and diet quality in comparison to those without NAFLD.

Keywords: Diet; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Polycystic ovary syndrome.

MeSH terms

Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diet
Female
Humans
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / complications
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / diagnosis
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / epidemiology
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* / complications
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* / metabolism
Risk Factors