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The Effect of a Low-Glycemic Index Diet on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Symptoms Among University-Aged Women

Author

• Angelika A. Gonzalez, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
• Annalise M. Sankar, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
• Noelle D. Nguyen, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Submission Date

4-17-2026

Document Type

Undergraduate Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition (BSHN)

First Mentor

Andrea Charvet

Keywords

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Dietary Adherence, Low Glycemic Index, Insulin Resistance, RCT, Hyperandrogenism, Menstrual Irregularity

Abstract

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is an endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age and is associated with insulin resistance, menstrual irregularities, hyperandrogenism, and metabolic dysfunction. Dietary modifications targeting glycemic response have emerged as a nonpharmacologic approach for PCOS management. However, long-term randomized controlled trials targeting young adult populations remain limited.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate long-term effects of adherence to a low-glycemic index diet on the frequency and severity of PCOS symptoms among female college students ages 18-22. This 12-month randomized controlled trial will recruit participants meeting the Rotterdam criteria from university health clinics. Participants will be randomly assigned to a low-GI dietary intervention group receiving structured nutrition counseling focused on low-GI food selection or a control group receiving dietary guidance without specific GI recommendations.

Primary outcomes will include menstrual regularity and ovulatory frequency. Secondary outcomes include hyperandrogenic symptom severity, metabolic indicators, and body composition. Hyperandrogenic symptom severity will be assessed using validated questionnaires, metabolic indicators will be measured through blood biomarkers, and body composition will be evaluated using anthropometric measurements. Dietary adherence will be monitored through food diaries and 24-hour dietary recalls. Descriptive statistics will summarize participant characteristics, paired t-tests will compare changes between groups, and regression analysis will examine relationships between dietary adherence and PCOS symptoms. It is hypothesized that participants adhering to a low-GI diet will demonstrate improvements in ovulatory frequency, symptom severity, and metabolic markers compared with controls.

NSUWorks Citation

Angelika A. Gonzalez, Annalise M. Sankar, and Noelle D. Nguyen. 2026. The Effect of a Low-Glycemic Index Diet on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Symptoms Among University-Aged Women. Capstone. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, . (48)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_com_nutrition/48.