The Keto-PCOS Connection: What the Latest Research Really Shows

If you've been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), you've probably heard conflicting advice about diet. Should you go low-carb? Try Mediterranean? Count calories? A new scoping review published in *Nutrients* offers some clarity on one increasingly popular approach: the ketogenic diet.

Let me break down what this research actually found—and what it means for you.

## Understanding PCOS: The Basics

PCOS affects about 7% of women worldwide, making it the most common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age. Diagnosis requires at least two of these three criteria:

- **Hyperandrogenism** (elevated male hormones causing acne, excess hair growth, or scalp hair loss)

- **Irregular or absent ovulation** (cycles longer than 35 days or fewer than 8 periods yearly)

- **Polycystic ovaries** visible on ultrasound

Beyond these diagnostic features, PCOS often brings insulin resistance, weight gain, infertility, and increased cardiovascular risk—a challenging combination that standard dietary advice doesn't always address effectively.

## What This Review Examined

Researchers from George Fox University analyzed eight studies conducted between 2019 and 2025, involving women with PCOS who adopted various ketogenic diet protocols. The studies ranged from 45 days to 12 weeks and included different ketogenic approaches: