PCOS & Fertility Research Update with Lauren Manaker

Dietitians, like myself, get into this business because we want to keep learning and keep finding ways to help our clients heal. Which is why I find myself heading to PubMed to find one article real quick, and end up looking up and realizing 2 hours have gone by. But, compared to some more well-researched conditions, not a lot of research funds are dedicated to PCOS, or to women's health in general. This is why it's so important that we find the best, most reliable, and relevant studies to help inform our practice.

For today's episode, I'll be joined by Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, LD, CLEC. In addition to being my dietitian bestie, Lauren is an expert researcher when it comes to fertility, pregnancy, and women's health. She's the author of several books including Fueling Male Fertility, Avoiding Allergens while Breastfeeding, and the First-Time Mom's Cookbook. Since Lauren is always my go-to when I want to geek out about something I've read, I just had to invite her on to the podcast to dig deep into the latest research studies.

In this episode, we talk about

• How to evaluate the quality of studies you're reading when researching
• Studies published in the PCOS & pregnancy literature over the last few months
• Why petri dish studies and studies on rats aren't particularly useful in PCOS (or any condition!)
• Interesting findings on dairy, supplements, environmental toxins, miscarriage, and fecal transplants in PCOS (yup, you read that last one right) — and relevant takeaways for YOU

Links to articles discussed:

1. Systemic review & meta-analysis on omega-3s: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34488386/

1. Berberine, gut microbiota (animal study): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34515131/

1. Whey protein improves glycemic response & NAFLD in PCOS: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34371959/

1. PCOS as an independent risk factor for miscarriage: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34444016/

1. PFAS = higher risk for PCOS & uterine fibroids but not endometriosis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34391986/

1. Curcumin + fecal microbiota transplant as a possible treatment for PCOS: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34332209/

Lauren's website: https://www.nutritionnowcounseling.com/

Lauren's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlovesnutrition/