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Topical Area: Obesity

Obesity (Poster Session)

(P31-013-23) Time Restricted Eating for the Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Study

Monday, July 24, 2023
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM ET
Location: Poster Board 236
Disclosure(s):
Sofia Cienfuegos, PhD MS RD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: Time restricted eating (TRE) involves limiting the eating window to a specific number of hours per day (4-10 h) and water fasting for the remaining hours. TRE produces several metabolic benefits, but no studies to date have examined TRE for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Objective:
Accordingly, we performed a pilot study to compare the effects of TRE versus daily calorie restriction (CR) on body weight, androgen markers, glycemic control, mood, and quality of life in woman with suspected PCOS (free androgen index >3 nmol/l).

Methods: Premenopausal women (34 ± 2 years; BMI 38 ± 1 kg/m2; FAI: 3.7 ± 0.3 nmol/l) were randomized to 1 of 3 interventions for 12 weeks: 1) TRE (n = 5; 8-h eating, 16-h fasting), 2) CR (n = 5; 25% energy restriction daily), or 3) control (n = 5; usual diet).

Results: By week 12, body weight decreased significantly (P = 0.02) more in the TRE group (-2.3 ± 0.3%; -2.5 ± 0.3 kg) versus CR (-0.3 ± 0.9%; -0.3 ± 0.9 kg) and controls. Fat mass also decreased (P = 0.01) more in the TRE group (-1.6 ± 0.6 kg) versus CR (-0.2 ± 0.9 kg) and controls. Visceral fat mass and waist circumference were also reduced more (P = 0.03) in the TRE group versus CR and controls. Total testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) remained unchanged. However, there was a trend (P = 0.10) towards greater reductions in FAI by TRE (-21 ± 9%) versus CR (-5 ± 7%) and controls. In addition, depression score decreased significantly (P = 0.005) in the TRE group (-57 ± 3%) compared to CR (+21 ± 27%) and controls. Lean mass, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, insulin sensitivity (measured by QUICKI) and quality of life did not differ between the groups by week 12.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that TRE produces greater reductions in body weight, fat mass, visceral fat, and depression score, versus CR, in women with obesity and PCOS. Whether TRE produces greater improvements in androgen markers versus CR, warrants further investigation.

Funding Sources: University of Illinois at Chicago