First recognized in 1935 by Stein and Leventhol for its relationship to menstrual disturbances, PCOS is characterized by
high levels of androgens (male hormones such as testosterone)
from the ovary and is associated with insulin resistance.
The negative effects seem to lie in the capacity
of some foods / nutrients to stimulate proliferative pathways that in turn stimulate development
of acne — suspect foods include those with a
high glycaemic load and milk.11, 43, 44 Other evidence comes
from several studies reporting that the prevalence
of acne varies significantly between different populations and is substantially lower in non-Westernized populations that follow traditional diets, 45 a common factor among these traditional diets being a low glycaemic load.46 Various studies have provided evidence that
high - glycaemic - load diets are implicated in the aetiology
of acne through their capacity to stimulate insulin,
androgen bioavailability and insulin - like growth factor - 1 (IGF - 1) activity, whereas the beneficial effects
of low - glycaemic - load diets, apart
from weight and blood glucose
levels, also include improved skin quality.44 The clinical and experimental evidence does in fact suggest ways in which insulin can increase
androgen production and affect via induction
of steroidogenic enzymes, 47 the secretion by the pituitary gland
of gonadotropin - releasing hormone and the production
of sex hormone - binding globulin.48 Insulin is also able to reduce serum
levels of IGF - binding protein - 1 increasing the effect
of IGF - 1.49 These insulin - mediated actions can therefore influence diverse factors that underlie the development
of acne such as: