PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, significantly impacts a woman's fertility, affecting 5% to 10% of women of childbearing age. This condition can lead to infertility due to the body's inability to produce enough eggs.
While most cases of PCOS aren't genetic, they all stem from hormonal imbalances. The primary issue is an excess of androgen, or 'male' hormones, which both men and women have, but men in much larger quantities. This imbalance prevents the normal growth of cysts that produce eggs, resulting in numerous small cysts on the ovaries that don't mature to release eggs.
Higher androgen levels also increase the risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and more facial hair.
Interestingly, low-carb diets, like the Zone diet, may benefit overweight women with PCOS. A study involving 11 non-diabetic, overweight women with PCOS compared a standard diet (56% carbs, 16% protein) with a lower-carb diet (43% carbs, 15% protein). The lower-carb diet had a higher fat content, split between polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.
A third diet, high in both carbs and monounsaturated fats, was also tested. Participants followed each diet for 16 days with a 3-week break between diets.
Researchers aimed to see if a low-carb diet could reduce insulin levels, as insulin influences androgen production. The study found that while hormone levels weren't significantly affected, cholesterol, fasting insulin, free fatty acids, and insulin response improved. This suggests a low-carb diet could benefit PCOS sufferers, though the short duration of the study might explain the limited impact on circulating insulin levels.
The study authors noted that reducing insulin could improve the endocrine profile in PCOS. They suggested that a low-carb, lower-calorie diet might benefit overweight women with PCOS.
However, not all low-carb diets are equal. The Atkins diet, for example, has been linked to heart problems and hospitalizations for some individuals.
A 40-year-old woman was recently hospitalized with dangerously high levels of acids in her blood after strictly following the Atkins diet for about a month. This condition, known as ketosis, is often seen as a marker of success for the Atkins diet, but it actually results from depriving the body of carbohydrates beyond a certain threshold.
Carbohydrates are the primary energy source for the body and the only source used by the brain. When deprived of carbs, the body resorts to metabolizing stored fats and proteins, which is not an efficient process. This leads to the production of acidic metabolic byproducts called ketones, which are released into the bloodstream to be excreted.
In this woman’s case, her body couldn’t excrete these ketones quickly enough, leading to a dangerous buildup in her bloodstream. She experienced severe vomiting, up to 4 to 6 times a day, and was eventually admitted to intensive care.
The Atkins Foundation suggested that this woman might have had abnormal metabolic or clinical issues. However, considering that she was obese—a target demographic for the Atkins diet—this raises significant concerns. Obesity often comes with various medical and metabolic issues. If an obese person didn’t have some form of metabolic problem, they likely wouldn’t be obese. While there may have been specific circumstances unique to this woman, the potential dangers of the diet need to be more fully understood.
It’s ironic that a diet marketed as a ‘way of life’ and recommended for long-term use might not be suitable for those with metabolic issues, especially when it targets individuals who are more likely to have such problems.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I received my training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where I learned about more than one hundred dietary theories and studied a variety of practical lifestyle coaching methods. Drawing on this knowledge, I will help you create a completely personalized “roadmap to health” that suits your unique body, lifestyle, preferences, and goals.
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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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