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more looking at the management of the condition itself and reducing the risk of those chronic conditions,” said Accredited Practising Dietitian and spokeswoman for Dietitians Australia, Milly Smith from fignutrition.com.au In terms of nutrition, “broadly, it’s the healthy eating strategies” that are typically recommended, in accordance with the Australian Dietary Guidelines, she says, with simple strategies including ensuring adequate vegetable intake – “five serves per day” – opting for water over flavoured drinks, and healthy fats such as fish, extra virgin olive oil, nuts, seeds and avocado. “Often, it’s recommended that we’d choose a low GI \\\\\\\[glycaemic index\\\\\\\] diet to reduce spikes in blood glucose levels and to help reduce the risk of T2DM particularly,” she said. “Examples \\\\\\\[of low GI foods\\\\\\\] include fruit, legumes, wholegrains such as oats, barley and quinoa, and starchy vegetables.” Ms Smith adds that avoiding high GI foods is equally as important, and this includes foods with added sugar such as lollies, chocolate, white bread and highly processed grains. Ms Johnson agrees, adding that nutrition recommendations should also be specific to the individual, as nutrition advice around PCOS “will look slightly different for each woman”. “But generally, we start with the foundations of quality foods and a balanced diet – aiming to eat plenty of colourful fruits and vegetables, healthy fats ... quality lean proteins and quality carbohydrates,” she said. “Some women will respond well to a lower-carbohydrate diet, as this helps improve insulin resistance, by reducing blood glucose levels and ultimately reducing insulin levels.” Mr Quigley adds that it’s worth considering the Mediterranean diet. He also suggests caution around total carbohydrate intake for some women, but, overall, emphasises that “change of diet and lifestyle is very important” when it comes to the management of PCOS. “It’s a good idea to get a dietitian involved because that helps with clear directions and clear instructions,” he said. “It avoids any confusion and puts a ‘food manager’ onto them as well.” While intake of vitamins and minerals from food sources is preferred, Mr Quigley points to possible options that may help manage some of the factors associated with PCOS. He suggests taking “magnesium, because that helps insulin function, chromium as it helps with cravings, and fish oils because they’re very involved in insulin resistance”. “Adequate omega-3s is very important,” he said. “We look at eating fish, eating nuts and seeds, and extra virgin olive oil.” Referring specifically to weight management, Ms Smith advises against overly restrictive eating as this can lead to excessive hunger, cravings for calorie dense foods and ultimately overeating. Consuming adequate fibre is important, she adds, with the aim being “25-30g each day”. TO PAGE 42 NUTRITION 41 Fertility and Prenatal Dietitian Melanie McGrice from Nutrition Plus says a nutrition assessment is important and useful for women with PCOS as it helps to “determine the key nutritional considerations for the individual”. She says “common considerations” include: • Lowering the glycaemic load of the diet. • Optimising carbohydrate distribution. • Weight optimisation. • Consideration of nutritional supplements such as inositol. • Optimising the dietary fat profile. “It’s important that women with PCOS don’t undertake fad diets, as they’re already very sensitive to weight gain and if they lose muscle mass, it can reduce their metabolic rate,” Ms McGrice said. “If they’re not consuming adequate fish (two to three times a week), a good quality omega-3 supplement may be beneficial. “If they’re taking metformin (a common medication used in the management of PCOS), they’re at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, so should have this tested at least annually.” RENEW YOUR DO with Minoxidil 5% w/v topical solution 3 and 6 months value packs for the treatment of hereditary hair loss Launch Promotion Available Now Contact your Arrotex OTC Sales Representative directly or call 1300 927 769 to find out more Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional. Arrotex Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd. 15-17 Chapel Street Cremorne Victoria 3121. Ph 1300 927 769. ABN 33 605 909 911. Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved. www.arrowpharma.com.au. Date Prepared March 2021. RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • MAR 2021