A Lifestyle Intervention for Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: The Role of a Pulse-Based Diet and Aerobic Exercise on Infertility Measures and Metabolic Syndrome Risk

To date, we have developed the pulse-based and meat-based healthy meals following Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC)guidelines recommended by NCEP for the intervention. We have been recruiting and enrolling participants into the study with our few set of participants having completed the 4 month intervention. Baseline data have been also collected on all participants assessed for PCOS. Preliminary measurements on POCS characteristics, baseline dietary and exercise habits of women with PCOS will be soon available.

This study involves an intervention comparing a diet containing pulses (i.e. beans, peas, chick peas, lentils) to a diet recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) for improving markers of metabolic syndrome and fertility in women with poly cystic ovarian syndrome who are also enrolled in an aerobic exercise program. To date, seven women in the pulse-diet group have completed the intervention, nine women in the group receiving the NCEP diet have completed the intervention, four women are currently enrolled on the pulse diet and two women are currently enrolled on the NCEP diet.