Role of Functional Foods and Nutraceutical Compounds in Alleviating Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Narrative Review
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) represents one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age. It is often associated with hormonal imbalance, metabolic disturbances, and reproductive complications, which together contribute to an elevated risk of long-term cardiometabolic disorders. Limitations and side effects of conventional pharmacotherapies have prompted growing interest in nutrition-based adjunct strategies targeting core PCOS pathophysiology. To narratively synthesize mechanistic rationale and human clinical evidence on dietary seeds and selected nutraceuticals relevant to PCOS, with emphasis on metabolic and reproductive endpoints of interest to nutrition and obstetrics/gynecology practice. A targeted literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, Google Scholar, and ACS Publications for studies published up to December 2025. Search terms combined "polycystic ovary syndrome/PCOS" with seed-related terms (flaxseed, sesame, pumpkin, sunflower, chia, fenugreek, seed cycling) and nutraceuticals (myo‑inositol, D‑chiro‑inositol, omega‑3 fatty acids, curcumin, N‑acetylcysteine, coenzyme Q10, selenium, vitamin D, alpha‑lipoic acid). Among seeds, flaxseed trials and mixed-seed interventions (pumpkin/sunflower/sesame/flaxseed) have the most direct clinical data in PCOS and have been associated with improvements in insulin resistance indices (e.g., homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)),…
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