Weight reduction using a formula diet recovers menstruation in obese patients with an ovulatory disorder

Abstract

Aim: To determine the effectiveness of a formula diet in weight reduction and the recovery of menstruation in obese patients with ovulatory disorders.

Methods: After the enrollment of 39 obese women with ovulatory disorders, they replaced one or two of their three normal meals with a microdiet (MD) (240 kcal/meal) for 24 weeks. Physical, endocrinological, and biochemical tests were conducted before and at 12 and 24 weeks of the study. Of the 39 women enrolled, 26 were not taking clomiphene. They were divided into three groups according to their body weight outcomes and then analyzed for menstruation recovery.

Results: A weight reduction of ≥5% was observed in 31 (81.5%) of the 39 women. There were significant decreases in the body weight and Body Mass Index during the study. Menstruation returned in 18 (69%) of the 26 patients without clomiphene treatment, with the recovery being significantly more prevalent in the groups (totally 81.0%) that exhibited a 5%-10% weight reduction and ≥10% weight reduction, compared to the group with a <5% weight reduction.

Conclusion: The use of a formula diet effectively reduced the patients' body weight and led to the recovery of menstruation in these obese patients with ovulatory disorders.

Keywords: formula diet; obesity; polycystic ovary syndrome; weight reduction.

Figures

Figure 1

Study protocol. The participants with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥25 were enrolled in this study for 24 weeks. MD, microdiet®, which contained 240 kcal/meal

Figure 2

Analyzed patients. A total of 45 patients was enrolled in the study, with 39 completing the study and 26 who were not taking clomiphene being analyzed for the recovery of menstruation. PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome

Figure 3

Proportion of weight reduction during the study. There was a significant reduction in the body weight of 31 (81.5%) out of 38 patients. At 24 weeks, one patient was excluded from the weight reduction analysis due to pregnancy. WR, weight reduction

Figure 4

Body measurement changes. A, Weight; B, body mass index; C, waist circumference; and D, hip circumference. The data are expressed as the mean±SD. *P<.05 and **P<.01

Figure 5

Blood biochemistry changes. The (A) homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, (B) total cholesterol, (C) triglyceride, (D) fasting blood sugar, (E) aspartate aminotransferase, and (F) alanine aminotransferase all were significantly decreased. The data are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. *P<.05 and **P<.01

Figure 6

Recovery of menstruation in accordance with the level of weight reduction (WR). A, Of the 26 patients not taking clomiphene, 18 recovered menstruation without the induction of ovulation. B, As for the recovery of menstruation more than twice during the study, the percentage was significantly higher in the 5%‐10% and in the >10% WR groups. The recovery rate of menstruation was totally 81.0% (17/21) in patients with >5% WR. *P<.05 and **P<.01. Amenorrheic, no recovery of menstruation during the study; eumenorrheic, recovery of menstruation at least once during the study; WR, weight reduction

Figure 7

(A and B) Serum testosterone and (C and D) fasting immunoreactive insulin level changes. In the 26 patients who were not taking clomiphene, eight were amenorrheic and 18 were eumenorrheic. Considering the background of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), eight were PCOS–eumenorrheic, three were PCOS–amenorrheic, 10 were non‐PCOS–eumenorrheic, and five were non‐PCOS–amenorrheic. The data are expressed as the mean±SD. *P<.05 and **P<.01. Amenorrheic, no recovery of menstruation during the study; eumenorrheic, recovery of menstruation at least once during the study