Abstract Introduction
Women with
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) have a higher
prevalence of
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (
NAFLD) than the general
population. PCOS and
NAFLD have common metabolic
risk factors, however, the
role of
diet in
NAFLD development is still uncertain in PCOS
women. Objective To evaluate and compare the
dietary patterns and
nutritional intake in
patients with PCOS with and without
NAFLD.
Method Cross-sectional study that included
patients with PCOS diagnosed according to Rotterdam criteria. All participants were submitted to abdominal ultrasound to investigate
liver steatosis. Dietary profile was assessed by 24-hour
food recall (24hR), and
Food Frequency
Questionnaire (FFQ).
Diet quality was assessed by the
Healthy Eating Index (HEI) adapted for the Brazilian
population.
Physical activity practice was also assessed. Results 87 participants were included (average age 35.2 ± 5.7 years), among whom, 67 (77%) had
NAFLD. The group with PCOS and
NAFLD presented higher
body mass index (BMI) (34.9 ± 4.5 vs. 30.4 ± 4.9 kg/m2; p = 0.001),
Waist Circumference (WC) (103 [97‒113] vs. 95 [87.5‒100] cm; p < 0.001) and were considered physically active less frequently than those without
NAFLD (34.3% vs. 60%; p = 0.04).
Food intake and
dietary patterns assessed by 24hR, FFQ and HEI presented no difference between the groups. Conclusions PCOS
women with coexistent
NAFLD had higher BMI, WC and were less physically active than those without
NAFLD. Dietary evaluation showed that PCOS
women with
NAFLD had no significant difference in macro and
micronutrients or
food group intake and
diet quality in comparison to those without
NAFLD.