Association between the diabetes risk reduction diet and polycystic ovary syndrome

BACKGROUND: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in reproductive-age women. Dietary patterns may influence its development through inflammatory and metabolic pathways. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between adherence to the Diabetes Risk Reduction Diet (DRRD) and the risk and severity of PCOS. METHODS: This case-control study included 232 women with newly diagnosed PCOS and 206 healthy controls aged 19–45 years. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and DRRD scores were calculated based on nine components. Anthropometric, biochemical, and psychological parameters were measured. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for PCOS across DRRD tertiles. RESULTS: Participants in the highest DRRD tertile had significantly lower odds of PCOS PCOS (OR: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.08–0.25, p < 0.001; p-trend < 0.001) compared to the lowest tertile, even after adjusting for confounders. Higher DRRD adherence was associated with better metabolic and psychological profiles, though findings on specific biochemical parameters were mixed. CONCLUSION: Higher adherence to the DRRD is associated with a reduced likelihood of PCOS. These findings support the role of anti-inflammatory dietary patterns in PCOS prevention.