Research Projects

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a gynaecological endocrinological disorder affecting women aged 16-50. It is characterized by hyperandrogenism and insulin metabolism disruption, which are the most documented pathologies. PCOS is considered a low-grade chronic inflammatory condition, with elevated T lymphocytes and insulin resistance. Unhealthy diets, particularly the western diet, have been linked to PCOS pathology, hyperinsulinemia, and low-grade inflammation. The western diet, which includes high glycemic index (GI) and refined carbs but is low in fiber, has been linked to postprandial spikes in glucose and lipids. Chronic consumption of high-GI food has been shown to challenge glucose homeostasis, leading to insulin resistance. Low-GI food patterns have been suggested to contribute to low postprandial glycaemia and lipaemia. A classical PCOS paper by Dunaif and team in 2001 reported that PCOS women are at a high risk of developing type II Diabetes and a post-binding defect in insulin-mediated glucose metabolism. However, the authors could not identify the intrinsic or extrinsic factors contributing to these non-canonical mechanisms. A recent study by Madhulika Dixit and team found that insulin exerts non-canonical insulin signaling in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) and that PBMCs and leukocytes from insulin-resistant amenorrhea have a defective binding to ExtraCellular Matrix (ECM) proteins, essential for follicular maturation and ovulation. Correcting insulin resistance through nutrition could help alleviate PCOS symptoms.