Administration of Cinnamon and Lagersroemia speciosa Extract on Lipid Profile of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Women with High Body Mass Index

Could polyphenols be an effective treatment in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), is a health problem observed in women of reproductive age. Different diets, physical activity recommendations and lifestyle changes can be effective in dealing with the symptoms of PCOS. Nutrition is indeed an essential part of the treatment of the disease as it directly affects body weight loss, insulin resistance, lipid profile, hormones, and dermatological complaints such as acne. Polyphenols, simply classified as flavonoids and non-flavonoids, are bioactive components found in plant-based foods. The most common polyphenols in the diet are flavanols, flavonols, flavanone, anthocyanins. In particular, polyphenols which are compounds naturally found in foods, have antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic benefits along with many other ones. In the treatment of PCOS, polyphenols may help reduce the symptoms, improve insulin resistance and poor lipid profile, and cure hormonal disorders. It has been reported that polyphenols are influential in menstrual cycle disorders and enable a decrease in body weight, hyperandrogenism, estrogen, testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH)/follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) ratios and LH. For adequate daily intake of polyphenols, which are found in high amounts in fruits and vegetables, at least 5 portions of fruits and vegetables should be consumed in addition to a healthy nutrition pattern. In this review, the effects of various polyphenols on polycystic ovary syndrome are discussed.

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Natural Products in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): A Mini-Review of Lipid Profile, Blood Glucose, and Ovarian Histological Improvements

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women that is characterized by fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries and various symptoms, including high androgen levels, endometrial irregularities, and cysts. Although the main cause of PCOS remains unknown, it has been linked to genetic, endocrine, and metabolic factors, and there are several treatment options, including lifestyle modifications, medications, and surgery. Natural products such as medicinal plants and fruits are being explored as potential treatments for PCOS because of their bioactive compounds with pharmacological effects related to antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antidiabetic properties. Some of these compounds improve insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation, and enhance glucose metabolism, thereby benefiting patients with PCOS. This mini-review examined the effects of natural products on PCOS, including their effects on ovarian histological changes, blood glucose, sex hormones, and lipid profiles, based on animal and human studies. This study suggests that the use of natural products as complementary medicines can be a promising resource for the development of effective therapeutics for PCOS; however, further research is needed to fully understand their benefits.

Mechanistic and therapeutic insight into the effects of cinnamon in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine diseases in the women at their reproductive age. Nowadays, the use of herbal compounds for lesser side effects, as compared to drug treatments, has become popular for the prevention and reduction of the complications of this disease. Evidence suggests that cinnamon, given its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, can be associated with reduced metabolic complications from chronic non-communicable diseases. This systematic review aimed to determine the potential effect of cinnamon on the metabolic status in the PCOS. PICO framework for current systematic review was Population (P): subjects with PCOS; Intervention (I): oral cinnamon supplement; Comparison (C): the group as control or administered placebo; and Outcome (O): changed inflammatory, oxidative stress, lipid profile, glycemic, hormonal and anthropometric parameters and ovarian function. PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, ProQuest and Google Scholar were searched from their very inception until January, 2020, considering specific keywords to explore the related studies. Out of 266 studies retrieved by the search strategy, only nine were eligible for evaluation. All clinical trials, animal studies, and published English-language journal studies were eligible for this review. The results showed that increased high-density lipoprotein and insulin sensitivity were increased by the cinnamon supplementation while low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and blood glucose were decreased in patients with PCOS. However, the results related to the potential effects of cinnamon on body weight and body mass index were inconsistent, thus calling for further studies. Also, despite improved results regarding the effect of cinnamon on oxidative stress and ovarian function, further studies are required to explore the precise mechanisms. Overall, the effects of cinnamon on the improvement of metabolic status in PCOS were promising. However, to observe clinical changes following cinnamon supplementation in PCOS, more clinical trials with higher doses of cinnamon and a longer duration of intervention are needed.