PCOS - A Low Carbohydrate Diet Can Help To Relieve Symptoms

Up to 10 per cent of women in the UK suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - a condition where the ovaries produce cysts. While polycystic ovaries themselves do not always cause problems, the hormonal changes that accompany them can bring on many unpleasant symptoms.

These include excess hair on the face or body, weight gain, irregular or absent periods, acne, mood swings, difficulty in conceiving, recurrent miscarriages and in some cases male pattern balding. Worse still, sufferers of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at greater risk of developing serious conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, blood clots, heart disease and cancer of the uterus.

If you suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) help is at hand. Simply following a low carbohydrate diet can offer effective relief from distressing symptoms. In a report to the Endocrine Society 2000 meeting, Dr James Hays, Director of the Limestone Medical Centre in the US, demonstrated that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is linked to a phenomenon called insulin resistance, which can be successfully reversed by reducing carbohydrate intake.

Too much insulin makes your hormones go haywire

Every time you eat something sweet or starchy, namely a carbohydrate, it is broken down into glucose which causes your blood sugar to rise. Your blood sugar level is normally well controlled by a system of hormones. If it gets too high, your pancreas produces insulin, which brings your blood sugar level down again. But continually eating high carbohydrate meals and snacks can make your body's cells become less sensitive to insulin, so that more and more is required to do the job.

Having a high level of insulin in your bloodstream eventually makes your ovaries and adrenal glands over-produce male sex hormones. These high levels of male hormones can cause the symptoms of extra body hair, acne and moodiness and increase your risk of heart disease. They also interfere with the normal release of hormones from the pituitary gland in your brain, which regulate the process of ovulation and the production of female sex hormones in your ovaries. This can cause absent or irregular periods and infertility.

The side effects of many drugs mimic symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

If your doctor diagnoses polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), you may be prescribed a high-oestrogen contraceptive pill to replace the oestrogen that your ovaries should be producing. You may also be given an anti-diabetic drug such as metformin to make your cells more sensitive to insulin. If your symptoms also include acne, a steroid cream may be prescribed.

All of these medications can have unpleasant and even dangerous side effects. The contraceptive pill can cause weight gain and depression and has been linked to an increased risk of blood clots, heart disease and high blood pressure - conditions you may already have as a result of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Metformin can cause loss of appetite, diarrhoea, nausea and bloating; prolonged use of steroid creams causes thinning of the skin and suppression of the immune system (BMA New Guide to Drugs and Medicines, 2001).

Overcoming polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) means not overloading your body with carbs

The first step you should take to relieve symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) should involve cutting down on carbs. Doing so will mean that your insulin levels will naturally fall and other hormones in your body will gradually begin to balance out again.

In his book, Dr Atkins' New Diet Revolution, Dr Atkins identifies a low carb diet as being central to the natural treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). He says, 'It all goes back to lesson one in eating for health - avoid glycaemic load. Don't cause your metabolism to struggle incessantly with high insulin levels, weight gain and looming... health tragedies'.

So remove all refined sugar products from your diet, such as cakes, confectionery, sweet drinks, honey and starchy foods such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. The good news is that you won't feel hungry since you can eat all the juicy steaks, chicken, fish, seafood, omelettes, rich creamy sauces, avocados, crisp salads and green vegetables you want. Just make sure that you drink at least 2 litres of water a day, to flush away harmful toxins that will be released as your body breaks down fat.

Take these supplements to reverse distressing symptoms

Dr Atkins also views nutritional supplements as an essential part of his diet plan, particularly in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). One that has recently proved its worth is N-acetyl cysteine, or NAC. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and high insulin levels who took between 1.8 and 3 grams of NAC a day for five to six weeks, were found to have a significant reduction in their insulin levels and improved insulin sensitivity (Fertility and Sterility 2002; 77: 1128-35).

Dr Atkins also recommends the amino-acid glutamine to prevent sugar cravings. Animal studies have shown that it helps combat insulin resistance too. Researchers at Vanderbilt University in the US found that glutamine improved blood sugar control so dramatically that they concluded 'glutamine has potential benefit as a nutrient adjuvant during clinical situations associated with insulin resistance' (J. Nutr. 1996; 126: 273-79). A daily dose of 500mg is recommended.

Chromium is a very important mineral if you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), since it encourages your liver to produce a substance called glucose tolerance factor (GTF), which increases the effectiveness of insulin. Chromium deficiency has been shown to produce symptoms of insulin resistance and diabetes (Health and Nutrition Breakthroughs, Sept 1998). In one study, chromium supplements combined with an exercise programme reduced insulin and cholesterol levels (J Nutr Biochem 1998; 9: 471-475). Take 200mg to 400mg of chromium picolinate a day.

The B vitamins are also important in helping to correct the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). B3 is a component of glucose tolerance factor (mentioned above), B5 helps to control fat metabolism and B6 balances hormone levels. A relative of the B vitamins, called d-chiro-inositol, increases the effectiveness of insulin in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), reduces male hormone levels and restores normal periods (NEJM 1999; 340: 1314-20).

This compound is not available yet as a nutritional supplement, but it is present in soya lecithin. Take a B-complex supplement and one tablespoon of lecithin granules a day.

Taking the above measures can reverse symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) resulting from high insulin levels and unbalanced sex hormones. At this stage it is still not clear whether they have the added benefit of changing polycystic ovaries back to a healthy state again - although it's possible that this may occur as a natural healing process over time.