SUN-120 Nutritional Supplement Use Among Individuals with PCOS in Canada: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Disclosure: S. Gill: None. H. Vanden Brink: None. R. Vettese: None. S. Virk: None. M. Bhogal: None. C. Song: None. J.L. Benham: None. Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders that affects biologic females, with an estimated prevalence of 1.4 million Canadians. The first line recommendations for PCOS management focus on lifestyle including healthy eating and regular exercise. There is also growing literature on adjunct therapy, such as nutritional supplements to target PCOS symptoms. There is a paucity of evidence regarding the scope of nutrient supplementation use to manage PCOS symptoms in individuals within Canada. Objective: To estimate the prevalence and types of nutritional supplements used by individuals with PCOS, and to identify motivations for and barriers to supplement use among people with PCOS. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey distributed via Qualtrics from August 1 to October 16, 2024. Eligible participants were aged 18 years and older with self-reported PCOS living in Canada. As part of a larger survey on PCOS management, participants were asked questions about supplement use. Descriptive statistics including frequencies and percentages were used to summarize the categorical survey responses. Results: Among 509 participants who met the inclusion criteria and completed the nutritional supplement section of the survey, 382 (74.5%) individuals reported using nutritional supplements for PCOS management, while 105 (20.5%) respondents had never used supplements for PCOS. Of the supplement users, 288 (75.4%) were using supplements at the time the survey was conducted. The most frequently used supplements included vitamin D (n= 295, 77.2%), magnesium (n=223, 58.4%), omega-3 fatty acids (n=186, 48.7%) and inositol (n=163, 42.7%). Motivations for taking supplements included to improve overall health (n=314, 82.2%), to increase energy level (n=255, 66.8%), to promote mental health/mood (n=226, 59.2%), and to lose weight (n=220, 57.6%). The most common reasons for not using supplements included lack of information related to which nutritional supplement(s) to use (n=74, 73.3%), how to take the supplement (e.g. how often, how much) (n=40, 39.6%) and lack of information on supplement safety (n=30, 29.7%). Conclusion: Most respondents with PCOS incorporate supplements as part of their PCOS management. The 2023 International Guideline for PCOS only provides evidence-based recommendations for one supplement (inositol), suggesting that research and increased community-level knowledge translation is needed to address the safety and efficacy of supplements in this patient population. Presentation: Sunday, July 13, 2025