Table 1 Clinical characteristics and dietary intake in women with PCOS and controls (n = 38)

Age, years

32.0 ± 7.8

35.5 ± 6.7

0.170

White, % (n)

88 (21)

72 (10)

0.549

Education

Elementary, % (n)

8 (2)

0 (0)

0.455

Secondary, % (n)

29 (7)

21 (3)

Higher, % (n)

63 (15)

79 (11)

Mean steps per day

5265 ± 2567

5509 ± 2256

0.769

BMI, kg/m²

31.1 ± 4.2

26.7 ± 4.6

0.004

Waist circumference, cm

91.9 ± 9.8

80.9 ± 9.6

0.002

Body fat, %

46.3 ± 5.4

39.4 ± 9.3

0.022

Trunk fat, %

19.2 ± 5.0

12.9 ± 5.0

0.001

Lean body mass, kg

40.5 ± 7.2

39.5 ± 4.7

0.668

Fasting glucose, mmol/L

4.9 ± 0.5

4.7 ± 0.4

0.110

HOMA-IR ^b

2.5 (1.6–3.7)

1.2 (0.8–1.9)

0.008

hsCRP, mg/L ^b

3.4 (2.2–8.0)

1.0 (0.6–1.8)

0.001

Total testosterone, nmol/L

1.4 ± 0.9

0.9 ± 0.3

0.014

Glucose-lowering medication use, % (n)

4 (1)

0

-

Current oral contraceptive use, % (n)

42 (10)

0

-

Dietary variables

Kcal

1758.9 ± 806.4

1610.7 ± 327.6

0.541

Carbohydrate, %

47.6 ± 7.8

48.9 ± 7.8

0.432

Protein, %

18.3 ± 4.0

17.6 ± 3.3

0.611

Fat, %

29.1 ± 6.5

27.8 ± 4.9

0.539

SFA, %

9.1 ± 2.3

7.5 ± 1.6

0.027

MUFA, %

10.1 ± 3.4

9.5 ± 2.4

0.564

PUFA, %

3.9 ± 1.3

3.8 ± 0.6

0.743

Fiber, g

21.1 ± 11.5

22.6 ± 5.4

0.663

Fiber, g/kg

0.26 ± 0.14

0.34 ± 0.13

0.086

Glycemic index, %

57.1 ± 4.7

53.8 ± 3.8

0.034

Glycemic load, g

114.4 ± 58.7

98.3 ± 36.6

0.364

Food groups, g

Fruits and vegetables

305.3 ± 191.0

390.6 ± 233.0

0.229

Legumes

82.6 ± 85.6

93.2 ± 25.6

0.577

Whole-grain cereals ^b

26.8 (3.5–41.1)

59.3 (29.6–105.7)

0.008

Refined-grain cereals ^b

132.1 (44.9–201.0)

61.2 (26.4–142.8)

0.199

Meat and eggs

162.6 ± 119.7

131.3 ± 48.3

0.360

Processed meat

15.5 ± 14.2

9.2 ± 12.2

0.049

Fish ^b

5.3 (0.0–12.0)

16.0 (0.0–20.0)

0.508

Dairy ^b

74.9 (17.1–170.0)

74.0 (37.6–146.1)

0.977

Sweets and desserts

72.5 ± 54.0

55.3 ± 46.2

0.327