Cross-Sectional Study of the Relationship Between Dietary Inflammatory Index and Inflammatory Hormonal and Metabolic Profiles in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Publisher Pubmed



Morshedzadeh N ; Behrouz V ; Ahmadi AR
Source: Scientific Reports Published:2025

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder characterized by obesity, hyperandrogenism, and dyslipidemia, with chronic inflammation playing a key role in its pathogenesis. While the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) has been linked to metabolic diseases, its association with PCOS-specific hormonal and inflammatory markers remains underexplored. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate relationships between DII scores and metabolic/hormonal profiles in 200 women with PCOS (aged 18–48 years) diagnosed using Rotterdam criteria. Participants’ dietary intake was assessed using a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical markers (including fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)), and hormonal levels (prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), and total testosterone), and blood pressure were analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 20.0 (IBM Corporation), employing multivariate linear regression with the ENTER method. Models were adjusted for age, BMI, smoking status, physical activity, and energy intake. The mean ± SD for the age of the participants was 38.23 ± 9.52 years. The mean BMI for the total sample was 24.40 ± 2.64 kg/m². Higher DII scores (indicating more pro-inflammatory diets) were significantly associated with elevated levels of FBG (β=+13.34, P < 0.001), hs-CRP (β=+1.18, P < 0.001), ESR (β=+3.39, P < 0.001), prolactin (β=+6.68, P < 0.001), FSH (β=+1.81, P < 0.001), and LH (β=+3.97, P < 0.001) in initial analyses. These associations remained significant after full adjustment (all P < 0.05). No significant relationships were observed between DII scores and lipid profiles or total testosterone levels after full adjustment (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that pro-inflammatory dietary patterns are associated with worsened inflammatory markers, glycemic control, and gonadotropin levels in women with PCOS. The results suggest a possible beneficial role of anti-inflammatory dietary interventions in PCOS management, although longitudinal studies are needed to establish causal relationships. © The Author(s) 2025.