High Protein Diet Reduces Depression in Women with PCOS

[KatCarney]

Appetite. 2007 Apr 4

Psychological benefits of a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome-A pilot study.

Galletly C, Moran L, Noakes M, Clifton P, Tomlinson L, Norman R.
Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

This study compared the psychological effects of a low-protein high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet and a high-protein low-carbohydrate (HPLC) diet in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Twenty-five overweight women with PCOS were matched for age, weight, and whether they were trying to conceive.

They were randomly allocated to the LPHC or HPLC diet for 16 weeks. All participants attended a weekly exercise, group support and educational program.

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale were administered at the beginning and end of the study.

The HPLC diet was associated with significant reduction in depression and improvement in self-esteem. There was no change in any psychological measures for the LPHC group.

There was no difference in weight loss between the groups.

Due to enhanced feelings of well-being, it is possible that HPLC diets may be associated with better compliance and hence be more successful in the long term treatment of obesity.

[NurseJackie]

Very interesting, as i was reading, i was wondering if the weight loss/feeling better about self was what people reported as feeling less depressed, but was surprised to see no difference in weight loss between the groups. Trying to get on the low carb/high protein bandwagon myself and struggle with depression, so i'll let you all know if it works for me, lol.

[vancouverNicole]

Super interesting!!
I was also surprised at the no weight loss difference.

[KatCarney]

You might want to pull the full study from the web to see how the calories were allocated: % carbs, % protein, %fat. It might help with meal planning.

[ilovelollypops]

interesting.. thank you!

[Pandora1151]

I can attest to this. I have been on a high protein, low carb diet for about 3 weeks now. My doctor put me on it to help with candida yeast overgrowth (can't have dairy or vinegar either). Of course, I am finally being treated for hypothyroid as well. But I have lost 9-10 pounds so far and I feel fabulous compaired to what I felt like before. I've lost weight before but not naturally (I did it with spiro and bcp - no diet ever helped) and I've never been on this strict of a diet before. I feel so good mentally, emotionally, and physically, I don't plan on stopping this diet when my 30 days is up. I don't even know if I'll add the dairy and vinegar back in (well, at least the dairy). After a couple of weeks, it's not so hard. It just becomes the normal way to eat. Even my family is used to it now. Everyone's feeling better. The thing is, we ate "healthy" before but lots of carbs, low fat rather than low carbs, high protein.