AUTHOR=Tsushima Yumiko , Nachawi Noura , Pantalone Kevin M. , Griebeler Marcio L. , Alwahab Ula Abed 

TITLE=Ketogenic diet improves fertility in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a brief report

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1395977

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2024.1395977

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects up to 20 % of reproductive-age individuals and is strongly linked to obesity. The impacts of ketogenic diet on fertility in people with PCOS are unknown. This study aims to determine the effect of a ketogenic diet on restoration of regular menstrual cycles and fertility.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>After approval from the Institutional Review Boards of Cleveland Clinic, a retrospective analysis was conducted using the electronic health record system. We analyzed data from thirty patients (n = 30) with polycystic ovary syndrome who followed a ketogenic diet for at least 3 months at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Main outcomes were percentage of women with restoration of regular menstrual cycles and pregnancy rate.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>All women (<italic>n</italic> = 30) had restoration of regular menstrual cycles. The overall pregnancy rate of women desiring pregnancy (<italic>n</italic> = 18) was 55.6% (<italic>n</italic> = 10). Pregnancy rate was 38.5% for women on metformin and 100% for those who were not (<italic>P</italic> = 0.036). Pregnancy rate was 62.5% for women using ovulation induction agents and 50.0% for those who did not (<italic>P</italic> = 0.66). Percent weight change between the pregnant and non-pregnant groups did not significantly differ [−8.1 ± 6.2, vs −6.4 ± 8.4, <italic>P</italic> = 0.64, respectively].</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>This study reports a higher rate of pregnancy with the ketogenic diet in women with PCOS compared to existing literature.</p></sec>