The effect of nutraceutical interventions on reproductive health outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
AIMS: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in reproductive-age women, associated with insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, and menstrual irregularities. Nutraceutical interventions-bioactive compounds derived from foods or supplements that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition-may support conventional therapy. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of nutraceutical interventions on reproductive and metabolic outcomes in PCOS.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024521879) and followed PRISMA 2020. Searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and regional databases (January 2013-December 2024) and included 78 eligible studies. Eligible randomized and quasi-experimental studies assessed nutraceuticals such as vitamin D, inositol, and quercetin. Risk of bias was evaluated with standardized tools; certainty of evidence was graded by GRADE.
RESULTS: Seventy-eight studies met inclusion criteria. Nutraceutical interventions significantly reduced fasting insulin (MD = -2.14 μIU/mL; 95% CI -3.12 to -1.16) and luteinizing hormone (MD = -1.34 mIU/mL; 95% CI -2.10 to -0.58) and increased sex-hormone-binding globulin (MD = +3.72 nmol/L; 95% CI 1.35 to 6.09). Vitamin D supplementation showed the strongest metabolic and hormonal improvements. Results for ovarian follicle count and menstrual bleeding were inconsistent.
CONCLUSIONS: Nutraceutical…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Quercetin Influences Quorum Sensing in Food Borne Bacteria: In-Vitro and In-Silico Evidence
- Phenolic-protein interactions: insight from in-silico analyses – a review
- In Silico Discovery of Candidate Drugs against Covid-19
- Neuropharmacological Effects of Quercetin: A Literature-Based Review
- In vitro and in silico anti-dengue activity of compounds obtained from Psidium guajava through bioprospecting
- Effect of Quercetin Rich Onion Extracts on Bacterial Quorum Sensing
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.