The Impact of Time-restricted Eating on the Outcomes Associated With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Summary

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder that affects approximately 10-15% of women of reproductive age. Increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis is considered to be one of the main factors associated with the pathogenesis of PCOS. The regulation of the activity of this axis is influenced by the following factors: insulin resistance and the activity of kisspeptins in the hypothalamus. It is suggested that intestinal dysbiosis may also play a key role in the pathogenesis of PCOS. It was noticed that the presence of bacteria producing gamma-aminobutyric acid in the intestine is positively correlated with the concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the serum, which indicates the relationship between the functioning of the gut-brain axis and PCOS. A dysbiotic factor is an incorrect diet and inappropriate timing of its consumption, which may also lead to inhibition of kisspeptin expression in the hypothalamus and cause menstrual disorders.

Due to the fact that most obese women with PCOS eat significantly more meals in the second part of the day, and these meals are characterized by a significant supply of fat and simple sugars, intestinal dysbiosis seems to be an important cause of the observed disorders, while the use of chrononutrition, consisting in synchronizing meal times with endogenous 24-hour circadian rhythms may partially restore eubiosis in the intestine and improve the reproductive, metabolic and neurohormonal health of women with PCOS. Time-restricted feeding (TRF), which involves eating food usually within 8 hours followed by 16 hours of fasting, seems to be a regime that allows restoring eubiosis in the intestinal microbiota and improving the quality of life of women with PCOS. So far, only one study has been conducted among women with PCOS who used TRF for 5 weeks and a number of positive changes were demonstrated (hormonal or metabolic). However, this study did not include an assessment of the microbial and neurohormonal parameters, which seems to be a key issue.

Taking the above into account, it was hypothesized that TRF may be an appropriate therapeutic tool for women with PCOS, which will positively affect metabolic and hormonal parameters by changing the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Therefore, the main aim of the experiment is to investigate the impact of TRF on the composition of the intestinal microbiota, its metabolites, and metabolic and neurohormonal parameters in women with PCOS.

Conditions

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Time-restricted eating

Time-restricted eating (TRE) is a dietary pattern where food intake is restricted to 8 hours of the day with no limitation on nutrient quality or quantity. Participants assigned to the intervention group will eat their usual diet from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and then fast until the next day (protocol 8/16). During the 16-hour fast, only hot and cold drinks will be allowed, i.e. coffee, tea or tea and water, but all products and dishes with energy value (including coffee cream, sweet teas, alcohol, snacks, etc.) will be prohibited. The TRE protocol will be implemented 7 days a week for a period of 3 months (12 weeks).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Joanna Bajerska

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Agata Chmurzyńska, Prof. · Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Poznań University of Life Sciences

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

40 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-12-12

Primary Completion

2024-12-31

Completion

2025-12-31

Countries

• Poland

Study Locations