Eating habits among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on a vegetarian vs non-vegetarian diet

Background
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most diagnosed endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age. Dietary intervention is recommended as first-line treatment of PCOS. The type of diet (vegetarian or non-vegetarian) and daily eating habits can play a key role in the treatment of this disease.

Objectives
The study aims to assess the eating habits of women suffering from PCOS following vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets.

Material and methods
The study was conducted from January to March 2022 among 233 women between the age of 19 to 57. The research tool was a website survey questionnaire with single choice and open questions on eating habits, age, weight, height, place of residence and education. The data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis using the chi-squared test. Results were considered significant at p ≤ 0.05.

Results
Vegetarians were observed to eat more vegetables than the rest of the women. Over a quarter of these women’s diets included legumes at least once a day compared to the respondents following a traditional diet (n = 4; 3.9%) and those not on any diet (n = 2; 5.3%). Both health condition and nutrition were better assessed by vegetarians. More than half of the study participants, apart from PCOS, also struggled with insulin resistance. The non-vegetarian group had a greater percentage of patients suffering from both issues.

Conclusions
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome who follow a vegetarian diet often have better eating habits than non-vegetarian. These results suggest that plant-based diets may be effective in treating PCOS. However, information on this is limited, particularly in Poland.