Investigation of taste function and eating behavior in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age that is associated with eating disorders and disordered eating. No data is available regarding taste function in women with PCOS. The aim of this study was to assess taste function and eating behavior in patients with PCOS compared to healthy women and investigate potential impact of oral contraceptive (OC) use on those. Forty-four patients with PCOS and 36 age and body-mass-index matched healthy controls were enrolled. Gustatory function was assessed by taste strips (sweet, sour, salty, bitter) and Food Cravings Questionnaire-Trait (FCQ-T), Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) and Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18 (TFEQ-R18) were applied. All measurements were repeated in patients after receiving an OC along with general lifestyle advice for 3 months. At baseline, PCOS group had lower total taste strip test (TST) scores compared to controls (11.7 ± 2.2 vs. 13.1 ± 1.4; p = 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed lower sour and salty taste scores in PCOS group (2.4 ± 0.9 vs. 2.9 ± 0.7; p = 0.004; and 2.6 ± 1 vs. 3.1 ± 0.7; p = 0.01 respectively). Sweet and bitter taste scores were similar. No difference was determined in eating behavior. Linear regression analysis revealed that hyperandrogenism was significant predictor for total TST score (R2 = 0.22, p < 0.001). Higher free androgen index (FAI) was associated with lower total TST score (p = 0.01). Total TST score, TFEQ-R18 and NEQ scores remained unaltered after treatment in the PCOS group whereas FCQ-T scores showed significant reduction (p = 0.02), mainly due to a decrease in lack of control subscale (p = 0.01). Our results suggest that taste perception is reduced in PCOS, and short-term OC use does not alter taste functions in the syndrome.

Characterization of gut microbiota in polycystic ovary syndrome: Findings from a lean population.

BACKGROUND: Limited available animal and human data suggest an association between dysbiosis of gut microbiota and PCOS. We aimed to determine whether gut microbiota in lean women with PCOS shows any alterations compared to healthy women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four lean patients with PCOS phenotype A according to the Rotterdam 2003 diagnostic criteria and 22 BMI-matched healthy women were included in this study. Anthropometric, hormonal and biochemical measurements were carried out in all participants. 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 region amplicon sequencing was performed on stool samples. Preprocessing of the raw data was performed using QIIME, and both QIIME and R packages were used for microbiome analysis. RESULTS: Bacterial richness and diversity did not show a significant difference between patients and controls. Beta diversity was similar between the groups. However, Erysipelotrichaceae, Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Planococcaceae, Gemmules and Bacillales were significantly abundant in PCOS group according to LEfSe analysis. Clostridium cluster XVII showed increased abundance in patient group, while Clostridium sensustricto and Roseburia were decreased compared to controls. Random forest prediction analysis revealed Clostridium cluster XIVb as the most discriminative feature of patient group and Roseburia for healthy controls. Testosterone and androstenedione were negatively correlated with alpha and phylogenetic diversity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that gut microbiome of lean PCOS patients with full phenotype shows compositional alterations with similar bacterial richness and diversity compared to controls and that hyperandrogenism is associated with dysbiosis.

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of three screening tools (PYMS, STAMP, and STRONG-kids) in hospitalized children.

BACKGROUND: There are different malnutrition screening tools developed in the English language, but limited data available on the validity of their versions translated into other languages. The aim of this study is to construct a Turkish version of PYMS, STRONG-kids, and STAMP and to determine their validity and reliability in a pediatric population. METHODS: The present study was conducted at two stages. First, the process of translating PYMS, STRONG-kids, and STAMP into the Turkish language was performed. In the second stage, the validity and reliability were evaluated in the new version of the tools. The anthropometric assessment was used as the reference standard in evaluating the validity of criteria. The reliability was observed through inter-rater and intra-rater agreement. RESULTS: 202 children in total were involved in the present study, 42 of whom took part in the reliability phase. The inter-rater agreement between one dietitian and one nurse was kappa (κ) = 0.955 (95% CI 0.904-1.000) for PYMS, 0.901 (95% CI 0.828-0.974) for STRONG-kids, and 0.963 (95% CI 0.912-1.000) for STAMP (almost perfect agreement). Sensitivity of the PYMS, STRONG-kids, and STAMP were 96.8%, 87.1%, and 77.4%, respectively. Specificity of the PYMS, STRONG-kids, and STAMP was found to be 65.0%, 30%, and 60.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the three tools were determined to be good. While PYMS was found to be more sensitive in detecting the malnutrition risk when compared to the other tools, STRONG-kids had the lowest specificity according to the agreement between tool results and anthropometric assessment.

Gut Microbiota and Oral Contraceptive Use in Overweight and Obese Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

CONTEXT: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common and complex endocrine disorder. Emerging animal and human data point to various changes in microbiota that could be linked with the syndrome. However, the effects of therapeutic approaches on gut microbial composition in women with PCOS remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess whether gut microbial composition is altered in PCOS and to determine the potential impact of oral contraceptive (OC) use on gut microbiota. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: The study included 17 overweight/obese patients with PCOS and 15 age- and body mass index-matched healthy control women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At baseline, clinical, hormonal, and metabolic evaluations and gut microbial composition assessment by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing were performed for both groups. All measurements were repeated in patients after receiving an OC along with general lifestyle advice for 3 months. RESULTS: Alpha and beta diversity did not show a difference between patients with PCOS and healthy controls at baseline and remained unaltered after 3 months of OC use in the PCOS group. Relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae was higher in PCOS (P = 0.006) and did not show a significant change after treatment. CONCLUSION: Women with PCOS have an increased abundance of Ruminococcaceae, whereas short-term OC use does not alter compositional features of gut microbiota in the syndrome.

Circulating gut microbiota metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide and oral contraceptive use in polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with an increased cardiometabolic risk that might not necessarily translate into adverse cardiovascular outcome later in life. Recently, alterations in gut microbial composition have been reported in the syndrome. Microbiota-dependent metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and its precursors are closely linked with development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, independently of traditional risk factors. We aimed to assess whether TMAO and its precursors are altered in PCOS and to determine potential impact of treatment on these metabolites. DESIGN: Prospective study. PATIENTS: Twenty-seven overweight/obese patients with PCOS and 25 age- and BMI-matched healthy control women. MEASUREMENTS: At baseline, fasting serum TMAO and its precursors were measured after a 3-day standardized diet. Patients received 3-month OC therapy along with general dietary advice after which all measurements were repeated. RESULTS: Patients had higher total testosterone (T) and free androgen index (FAI) whereas whole-body fat mass, fasting plasma glucose, insulin and lipids were similar between the groups. PCOS group showed significantly higher serum levels of TMAO and its precursors; choline, betaine and carnitine. TMAO and choline showed correlations with T. After 3 months of OC use, TMAO and its precursors significantly decreased along with reductions in BMI, T and FAI. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports for the first time that TMAO and its precursors are elevated in PCOS which might contribute to increased cardiometabolic risk of the syndrome and that short-term OC use along with lifestyle intervention is associated with reduction of these microbiome-dependent metabolites.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Relation to Physical Activity and Nutrition in Azerbaijan.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an important public health concern associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Despite its global significance, the prevalence of MetS in Azerbaijan is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of MetS and its relation to physical activity (PA) and nutrition in a representative sample of Azerbaijani adults. METHODS: The study included 288 adults (159 women and 129 men), 20 years of age and older, from Guba, Azerbaijan recruited between January and April 2016 by random sampling in line with gender and age distribution. Revised National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria were used to define MetS and prevalence estimates of each individual component were determined. PA and food consumption were assessed with validated questionnaires. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of MetS was 28.4%. Abdominal obesity was the most common individual component (49% and 85.4% in whole population and in those with MetS, respectively), and it was the only component more common in women than men in the whole population and among those with MetS (P < 0.05 for both). The odds ratio for having MetS was 0.56 (95% confidence interval, 0.34-0.95) in moderate-high PA group compared with low PA group, suggesting a reduced risk of MetS with increased PA. Food consumption did not show a difference in participants with and without MetS. CONCLUSIONS: MetS in Azerbaijan is common and associated with low PA. Preventive measures should be taken to address this public health problem and related risk factors in the country.