EFFECT OF MEDITERRANEAN DIET ON SEXUAL FUNCTION IN WOMEN WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that includes hypertension, central obesity, insulin resistance, type 2-diabetes and atherogenic dyslipidaemia (1). A woman's sexual health is associated with several psychological and interpersonal factors, and may be affected by aging and metabolic changes (2).

Obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2-diabetes which are conditions frequently present in women with metabolic syndrome are considered risk factors for atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction which impairs tissue oxygenation and causes subsequent functional and structural damage to the female genital tract. A decrease in pelvic blood flow secondary to atherosclerotic disease leads to fibrosis of the vaginal wall and clitoral smooth muscle, eventually resulting in vaginal dryness and dyspareunia (3).

Women with metabolic syndrome showed higher prevalence of sexual inactivity and low sexual desire, orgasm, satisfaction, and Female sexual function (FSFI) total score in respect to women without metabolic syndrome (4). There is a link between diet and sexual performance markers to get and maintain lubrication, orgasm, and frequency of sex, as food has a favourable or negative impact on sexual activity for both sexes at any age (5). The Mediterranean diet (Med Diet) is one of the most widely described and evaluated dietary patterns in scientific literature. It is based on the traditional foods that people used to eat in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, including France, Spain, Greece, and Italy. It is characterized by high intakes of vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, grains, fish, seafood, extra virgin olive oil, and a moderate intake of red wine (6). Previous studies proved that Kegel exercise raise the level of sexual satisfaction, as the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) specifically the pubococcygeus and iliococcygeus muscles are responsible for the rhythmic involuntary contractions during orgasm (7).

According to the authors' knowledge, no prior research studied the effect of Mediterranean diet on sexual function in women with metabolic syndrome.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Metabolic Syndrome in Women
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: kegel exercise; Other: Mediterranean diet regimen for 12 weeks.

Detailed Description

200 patients with metabolic syndrome complaining of sexual dysfunction, aged 25-40 years, were randomized into two equal groups, the control group (A) received sessions of Kegel exercise three times per week for 12 weeks, the study group (B) received Kegel exercise combined with Mediterranean diet regimen for 12 weeks. Female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire was used to evaluate sexual function of each woman in both groups, while sexual quality of life-female (SQOL_F) questionnaire was used to assess quality of life (QoL) of each woman in both groups before and after treatment.

All women will be included in this study if they fulfill the following criteria:

1. Sexually active women diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and complaining of sexual dysfunction:

   • Abdominal adiposity (waist circumference is >88 cm)
   • Low serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol
   • Hypertriglyceridemia (elevated triglyceride of >150 mg/dl)
   • Elevated blood pressure >130/85mmHg
   • Abnormal glucose homeostasis (fasting plasma glucose concentration is >110mg/dl).
2. Their age will range (25- 35 ) years
3. Body mass index (BMI) ≥ (25-30) kg/m2.

Women who had met one of the following criteria will be excluded from the study:

• Women has cardiovascular disease
• Psychiatric problems
• History of alcohol abuse
• Smoker women
• Taking medication

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 200
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Giza, Egypt
    • Egypt , Giza

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:All women will be included in this study if they fulfill the following criteria:

1. Sexually active women diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and complaining of sexual dysfunction:

   • Abdominal adiposity (waist circumference is >88 cm)
   • Low serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol
   • Hypertriglyceridemia (elevated triglyceride of >150 mg/dl)
   • Elevated blood pressure >130/85mmHg
   • Abnormal glucose homeostasis (fasting plasma glucose concentration is >110mg/dl).
2. Their age will range (25- 35 ) years

3. Body mass index (BMI) ≥ (25-30) kg/m2.

   -

   Exclusion Criteria:

   Women who had met one of the following criteria will be excluded from the study:

   • Women has cardiovascular disease
   • Psychiatric problems
   • History of alcohol abuse
   • Smoker women
   • Taking medication

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: control group: Kegel exercise group; will receive Kegel exercise (3 sessions /week for 12 weeks)- Each female will be asked to "Try to squeeze her pelvic floor muscles as much as possible". She was instructed that the numbers she saw at the top of screen indicated the activity of the muscle (electrical activity), in microvolt (mv).; The therapeutic session will be repeated 3 sessions /week for 12 weeks for each female in both groups (A&B).; Each female will be instructed to Tighten her pelvic floor muscles. Hold tight and count 3 to 5 seconds, relax the muscles and count 3 to 5 seconds, then repeat 10 times, 3 times a day at least three sets of 10 to 15 repetitions a day as a home program; They will be instructed not to use abdomen, thighs or buttock muscles during the contraction, avoid holding breath. Instead, breathe freely during the exercises.	Procedure: kegel exercise; Each female will be asked to "Try to squeeze her pelvic floor muscles as much as possible". She was instructed that the numbers she saw at the top of screen indicated the activity of the muscle (electrical activity), in microvolt (mv).; The therapeutic session will be repeated 3 sessions /week for 12 weeks for each female in both groups (A&B).; Each female will be instructed to Tighten her pelvic floor muscles. Hold tight and count 3 to 5 seconds, relax the muscles and count 3 to 5 seconds, then repeat 10 times, 3 times a day at least three sets of 10 to 15 repetitions a day as a home program; They will be instructed not to use abdomen, thighs or buttock muscles during the contraction, avoid holding breath. Instead, breathe freely during the exercises.
Experimental: study group: Kegel exercise combined with Mediterranean diet regimen for 12 weeks.; kegel and Mediterranean diet regimen :kegel ex same as controlled group in addition toMediterranean diet. The recommended composition of the dietary regimen was the following: carbohydrates 50-60%, proteins 15-20%, total fat o30%, saturated fat 10% and less than 300 mg of cholesterol consumed per day. Moreover, subjects Will	Procedure: kegel exercise; Each female will be asked to "Try to squeeze her pelvic floor muscles as much as possible". She was instructed that the numbers she saw at the top of screen indicated the activity of the muscle (electrical activity), in microvolt (mv).; The therapeutic session will be repeated 3 sessions /week for 12 weeks for each female in both groups (A&B).; Each female will be instructed to Tighten her pelvic floor muscles. Hold tight and count 3 to 5 seconds, relax the muscles and count 3 to 5 seconds, then repeat 10 times, 3 times a day at least three sets of 10 to 15 repetitions a day as a home program; They will be instructed not to use abdomen, thighs or buttock muscles during the contraction, avoid holding breath. Instead, breathe freely during the exercises.; Other: Mediterranean diet regimen for 12 weeks.; kegel ex in addition to mediterrian diet . The recommended composition of the dietary regimen was the following: carbohydrates 50-60%, proteins 15-20%, total fat o30%, saturated fat 10% and less than 300 mg of cholesterol consumed per day. Moreover, subjects Will be advised to consume at least 250-300 g of fruits, 125-150 g of vegetables and 25-50 g of nuts per day.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire	up to 12 weeks
Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire- Female	up to 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Cairo University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): January 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 5, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): May 16, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 16, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2023
• Last Verified: May 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Disease; Insulin Resistance; Hyperinsulinism; Syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome
• Other Study ID Numbers: P.T.REC/012/004338

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No