Eight-hour Time-restricted Feeding Improves Endocrine and Metabolic Profiles in Women With Anovulatory Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract Background: Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is a form of intermittent fasting, which is beneficial for weight loss and cardiometabolic health. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common reproductive endocrine and metabolic diseases affecting women of childbearing age. It is associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. While limited data are available on the effects of TRF in PCOS. Thus, we sought to investigate the effects of TRF in women with anovulatory PCOS.Methods: Eighteen women aged between 18 and 31 with anovulation of PCOS participated in a 6-week trial and were divided into two consecutive periods: (1) 1-week baseline period; and (2) 5-week TRF period. Fifteen participants completed the study. Changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), Waist-to-Hip Ratio, skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass (BFM), body fat percentage (BF%), visceral fat area (VFA), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), LH/FSH, total testosterone (TT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), free androgen index (FAI), fasting glucose, fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), area under the curve (AUC) for insulin (AUCInsulin), area under the curve (AUC) for glucose (AUCGlucose), AUCInsulin/AUCGlucose Ratio, lipids, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), menstrual cycle and eating behaviors were evaluated.Results: Significant changes in body weight, BMI, BFM, BF%, VFA, TT, SHBG, FAI, FINS, HOMA-IR, AUCInsulin, AUCInsulin/AUCGlucose Ratio, ALT, hsCRP and IGF-1 were found after the TRF period. An improvement in menstrual cycle irregularity was detected in 73.3% (11/15) patients. Conclusion: The diet of TRF may be beneficial to anovulatory PCOS on weight loss (especially reducing body fat), improving menstruation, hyperandrogenemia, insulin resistance and inflammation.Trial registration Clinicaltrial.gov, NCT04580433, registrered October 8, 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04580433