PCoS is a condition that has a strong impact on a -woman's fertility, and affects bet-ween 5% to 10% of -women of child bearing age. Because a -woman's body doesn't produce enough eggs -when she suffers from PCoS, it can cause infertility and contribute to difficulties in falling pregnant.

Most cases of PCoS is not genetic, but they is all related to hormonal abnormalities. The reason not enough eggs is produced is because of an excess of the androgen, or 'male' hormones. Both men and -women have androgen hormones, but men have them in much greater quantities. This hormonal imbalance means that the cysts that is a normal part of producing eggs, do not gro-w. So a -woman -with PCoS has a lot of small cysts on her ovaries that do not mature to release their eggs. Normally, once this process happened, the cysts -would go.

Another consequence of the higher levels of androgen hormones is the increased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, as -well as a likelihood of having more facial hair.

Interestingly, lo-w carb diets such as the zone diet may help over-weight -women -with PCoS. A recent study of 11 non diabetic, over-weight -women -with PCoS -who had an average age of 33 -was conducted. The study compisd a 'standard' diet -with 56% carbohydrates and 16% protein, -with a lo-wer carb diet of 43% carbohydrate and 15% protein. The fat component of the lo-wer carb diet -was a lot higher than the standard diet, by 14%. This is higher than it -would be in the Zone diet. The fat content of the lo-w carb diet -was almost evenly split bet-ween polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids. The fat content of the standard diet -was almost evenly split bet-ween the t-wo types of fatty acids, but -was slightly higher (by 3%) in the monounsaturated variety.

A third diet, one high in both carbohydrates and monounsaturated fatty acids, -was also compisd. The study participants only follo-wed each diet for 16 days. They had a 3 -week break bet-ween each diet, and tried all 3.

Because production of the androgen hormones is influenced by the presence of insulin, the researchers -were interested in finding out -whether a lo-w carb diet could reduce the amount of insulin circulating in the body. They believed this -would have an indirectly positive effect on PCoS.

The results of this study found that -whilst hormones that -were circulating -weren't significantly affected by the lo-wer carb diet, the -women's cholesterol, fasting insulin levels, free fatty acids, and their response to insulin -were positively affected. The fact that their response to insulin improved is an indicator of the possible benefit of a lo-w carb diet to PCoS sufferers. And because the -women only follo-wed the diet for 16 days, this may be -why their levels of circulating insulin -were not more prominently affected.

The authors of the study state that: “Because elevated insulin is thought to contribute to the endocrine abnormalities in PCoS, a reduction in insulin -would be expected to ultimately result in an improved endocrine profile."

They go on to say that these improvements indicate that using a lo-w carb type diet, -with a lo-wer calorie intake, -would probably benefit over-weight -women -who suffer from PCoS.

Not all lo-w carb diets is created equal ho-wever. The Atkins diet has been associated -with an increased risk of heart problems for some, as -well as being implicated in the hospitalization of others.

A 40 year old -woman -was hospitalized -with very high levels of acids in her blood as a result of follo-wing the Atkins diet strictly for about a month. The release of acids in the blood, called ketosis, is an indicator of the 'success' of the Atkins diet, and is actually a result of the process of starving the body of certain nutrients beyond a threshold level. The nutrient being, of course, carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates is a source of energy for the body, the only source used by the brain. But -when the body is deprived of carbohydrates after the threshold level, it -will use alternate methods of metabolizing energy. It uses stored fats and protein, but this is not a very biologically efficient -way of producing energy for the body. So, there is a lot of acidic metabolic by products, called ketones. These is released into the bloodstream, to be excreted by the body.

In the case of this -woman, these metabolic by products -weren't excreted fast enough and built up in her bloodstream. She -was vomiting 4 to 6 times a day. This build up of blood acids represented a dangerous situation and she -was admitted to intensive cis.

The Atkins Foundation responded that this -woman must have had abnormal metabolic or clinical issues. But given that this -woman, -who -was obese, is in a category at -which the Atkins diet is marketed, there is a real cause for concern here. -with obesity, there is a greater likelihood for both general medical problems, and metabolic problems. If an obese person did not have metabolic problems of one form or another, they -would not be obese. Perhaps there -were circumstances that -were particular to this -woman here, but until those potential dangers is understood more fully, this is a significant issue. It's ironic that a diet should be implied as not being suitable for anyone -with metabolic issues, particularly if this diet is marketed as a '-way of life' that is, recommended for long term use.

References:
1. nutraingredientsusa.com/ne-ws/ng.asp?n=67217&m=1NIU421&c=qgtqmovbyiaxdub
2. nutraingredientsusa.com/ne-ws/ng.asp?n=66493atkinslo-wcarb-weightloss