Abstract
BACKGROUND: Oral contraceptives have limitations in managing polycystic ovary syndrome. We explored time-restricted feeding combined with oral contraceptive use as a novel strategy for the management of polycystic ovary syndrome.
STUDY DESIGN: A total of 126 female patients with polycystic ovary syndrome aged 18–40 years were selected for this study. They were randomly assigned to oral contraceptive therapy with an 8-hour time-restricted feeding (eating freely between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.) or oral contraceptive therapy alone for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the difference in spontaneous ovulation rate between the two groups after the intervention, and the secondary outcomes included changes in weight, body mass index, waist circumference, fertility endocrine indices, and glucose and lipid metabolism factors.
RESULTS: Of 126 participants who underwent randomization, 116 (92.1%) completed a 12-week follow-up visit. The rates of spontaneous ovulation were 69.4% in the oral contraceptive + time-restricted feeding group and 50% in the oral contraceptive group (odds ratio=2.263; 95% confidence interval, 1.092–4.692; P=0.028). Time-restricted feeding is an independent factor that promotes ovulation recovery in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, especially in those with insulin resistance. After the intervention, the oral contraceptive + time-restricted feeding group had a significantly lower body weight (-3.6 vs -0.9 kg, P <0.001), body mass index (-1.4 vs -0.4 kg/m2, P<0.001), body fat percentage (-1.4% vs 0.01%, P=0.047), waist circumference (-2.9 vs -0.6 cm, P <0.001), and fasting insulin (-2.4 vs -0.1 mIU/L, P=0.032) than the oral contraceptive alone group.
CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, a time-restricted feeding regimen combined with oral contraceptive therapy was more beneficial than oral contraceptive use alone in promoting ovulation and reducing body weight, body fat, waist circumference, and fasting insulin.