Researchers studied 200 women to understand how diet and lifestyle choices affect polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common condition affecting women’s hormones and fertility. They found that women who ate more inflammatory foods—like processed items and sugary snacks—had higher chances of having PCOS. The study suggests that choosing anti-inflammatory foods, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, combined with regular exercise, might help reduce PCOS risk. While these findings are promising, more research is needed to confirm whether changing your diet can actually prevent PCOS from developing.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether eating inflammatory foods and having an inactive lifestyle increases the risk of developing PCOS, a hormonal condition that affects many women
  • Who participated: 100 women recently diagnosed with PCOS and 100 healthy women of similar age from a fertility clinic in Iran. All were women of childbearing age
  • Key finding: Women who ate more inflammatory foods had nearly 3 times higher odds of having PCOS. Women with poor diet and lifestyle habits combined had even higher odds—nearly 4 times higher—compared to those with healthier patterns
  • What it means for you: If you’re concerned about PCOS risk, focusing on anti-inflammatory foods and staying active may help. However, this study shows a connection, not proof that diet changes prevent PCOS. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk factors

The Research Details

This was a case-control study, which means researchers compared two groups of women: those with PCOS and those without. They asked both groups detailed questions about what they ate using a food questionnaire with 147 different foods. The researchers then calculated three different ‘inflammation scores’ based on each person’s diet and lifestyle choices. These scores measure how much their eating patterns might trigger inflammation in the body. Finally, they used statistical analysis to see if women with higher inflammation scores were more likely to have PCOS.

The study took place at a fertility clinic in Iran and included 100 women with newly diagnosed PCOS (confirmed within 3 months) and 100 healthy women matched by age. The researchers carefully controlled for other factors that might affect PCOS risk, like body weight, exercise, education level, and family history of diabetes.

Understanding what causes PCOS is important because it affects many women and can make it harder to get pregnant. If diet and lifestyle play a role in PCOS development, then changing these habits might help prevent or manage the condition. This study is valuable because it looked at three different ways to measure inflammation, giving researchers multiple perspectives on the same question

This study has some strengths: it used a validated food questionnaire, included a good comparison group, and controlled for many other factors that could affect results. However, because it’s a case-control study, it shows association but not cause-and-effect. The researchers acknowledge this limitation and note that future studies following women over time would provide stronger evidence

What the Results Show

The study found that women with higher Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) scores—meaning they ate more inflammatory foods—had about 2.8 times higher odds of having PCOS compared to women with lower scores. When researchers looked at a combined diet and lifestyle score (DLIS), the effect was even stronger: women with the highest scores had about 3.7 times higher odds of PCOS.

These associations remained strong even after accounting for other important factors like body weight, exercise level, education, and family history of diabetes. This suggests that the inflammatory nature of the diet itself, beyond just calories or weight, may be important for PCOS risk.

Interestingly, the third inflammation measure tested (EDIP, which focuses on specific food patterns) did not show a significant association with PCOS. This suggests that the overall inflammatory potential of foods matters more than specific food combinations for PCOS risk.

The study found that lifestyle factors combined with diet were particularly important. Women who had both poor diet quality and low physical activity had the highest PCOS risk. This suggests that a comprehensive approach—eating better foods AND staying active—may be more protective than focusing on diet alone

Previous research has shown that inflammation plays a role in PCOS development, and that diet affects inflammation levels in the body. This study builds on that knowledge by testing specific tools designed to measure dietary inflammation. The findings align with general nutrition science showing that processed foods and sedentary lifestyles increase body-wide inflammation

This study has important limitations to consider. Because it’s a case-control design, researchers compared women who already have PCOS to those who don’t—they didn’t follow women over time to see if diet changes actually prevented PCOS. The study was conducted in Iran, so results may not apply equally to all populations. Additionally, the study relied on women remembering what they ate, which can be inaccurate. Finally, the sample size of 200 women is relatively modest for this type of research

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, consider eating more anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and nuts while limiting processed foods, sugary drinks, and fried items. Combine dietary changes with regular physical activity. These changes may help reduce PCOS risk, though the evidence is suggestive rather than definitive. Confidence level: Moderate—this study shows association, and more research is needed to confirm cause-and-effect

Women concerned about PCOS risk, especially those with family history of PCOS or metabolic disorders, should pay attention to these findings. Women already diagnosed with PCOS may benefit from anti-inflammatory dietary approaches. However, these findings don’t apply to men or to conditions unrelated to inflammation. If you have PCOS or suspect you might, consult your healthcare provider before making major dietary changes

Changes in inflammation markers can occur within weeks of dietary changes, but effects on PCOS symptoms or hormonal balance typically take several months to become apparent. Most people notice improvements in energy and overall health within 4-8 weeks of consistent anti-inflammatory eating and exercise habits

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily inflammatory food intake by logging meals and marking them as ‘anti-inflammatory’ (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish) or ‘pro-inflammatory’ (processed foods, sugary items, fried foods). Aim for 80% anti-inflammatory choices daily
  • Set a specific goal like ‘Add one serving of vegetables to lunch’ or ‘Replace one sugary drink with water daily.’ Use the app to log these changes and celebrate weekly progress. Link this to physical activity tracking—aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity weekly
  • Track three metrics monthly: (1) percentage of anti-inflammatory meals, (2) weekly exercise minutes, and (3) energy levels or symptom improvements. Create a dashboard showing 3-month trends to visualize whether lifestyle changes correlate with how you feel

This research shows an association between inflammatory diets and PCOS, but does not prove that diet changes can prevent or cure PCOS. This study was conducted in a specific population and may not apply universally. If you have PCOS, suspect you have PCOS, or are considering significant dietary changes, consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. Individual responses to dietary changes vary, and PCOS is a complex condition requiring personalized medical care