We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on dairy consumption and its association with anthropometric measurements, blood glucose status, insulin levels, and testosterone levels in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
This study conducted a comprehensive literature search using electronic databases like MEDLINE, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify observational and interventional studies investigating the relationship between dairy product consumption and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. A meta-analysis was performed on clinical trial studies that examined the effect of a low starch/low dairy diet in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome subjects. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 16.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas, USA), and statistical significance was defined as p-value < 0.05.
Of the 1,313 citations reviewed, our systematic review identified 11 studies that met the inclusion criteria, comprising six case-control studies, four clinical trials, and one cross-sectional study. The case-control studies found limited evidence of an association between dairy consumption and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. The result of the clinical trial studies in meta-analysis showed that reducing dairy intake along with reducing starch intake led to statistically significant improvements in anthropometric and metabolic measures including mean weight (Standardized mean difference: -8.43 (95% CI: -9.01, -7.86)), Body mass index (-3.14 (95% CI: -3.35, -2.92), waist circumference (-6.63 (95% CI: -10.70, -2.57)) and Waist-to-Height Ratio (-0.04 (95% CI: -0.07, -0.01), insulin fasting (-18.23 (95% CI: -22.11, -14.36)), insulin 120 minutes (-94.05 (95% CI: -157.67, -30.42)), HbA1c (-0.27 (95% CI: -0.37, -0.17)), Ferryman-Gallwey score (-2.07 (95% CI: -2.98, -1.16)) and total testosterone (-9.97 (95% CI: -14.75, -5.19)). No significant reduction was found in fasting glucose, 2 hours glucose, percent of fat mass, and mean free testosterone after intervention.
The findings of this systematic review show limited evidence about the association between dairy consumption and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. The interventional studies suggest that a low-dairy/low-starch diet may improve some anthropometric and metabolic measures in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.