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Review
. 2023 Aug 6;20(15):6534.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20156534.

The Effects of Plant-Derived Phytochemical Compounds and Phytochemical-Rich Diets on Females with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Scoping Review of Clinical Trials

Guadalupe Nayeli Chavez  1 , Kataryna Jaworsky  1   2 , Arpita Basu  1
Affiliations
Review

The Effects of Plant-Derived Phytochemical Compounds and Phytochemical-Rich Diets on Females with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Scoping Review of Clinical Trials

Guadalupe Nayeli Chavez et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine condition that impacts nutritional status, metabolic, and hormonal function in females of reproductive age. This condition is associated with increased androgen production (hyperandrogenism) and decreased insulin sensitivity, which often leads to insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. This increase in androgen production and insulin resistance is strongly associated with a high incidence of obesity, type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and certain types of gonad-related cancers among females who suffer from this condition. As research continues to grow, it has been demonstrated that PCOS is a complex condition, and some of its characteristics vary among the females that have this disorder. However, it has been suggested that oxidative stress and low-grade chronic inflammation could play an important role in the development of PCOS. Current evidence suggest that phytochemicals could potentially help with weight-loss by reducing oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation, as well as aid in metabolic and hormonal regulation due to their antioxidant properties. Some of the bioactive compounds found in plants that have shown positive effects in the attenuation of PCOS include flavonoids, polyphenols, phytoestrogen, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Thus, a review of the current literature published on PCOS and phytochemicals was conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics databases for articles published between 2013 and 2023 with a study duration of 1 to 3 months and adequate sample sizes. The main purpose of this review of literature was to investigate the metabolic effects of phytochemical compounds and phytochemical-rich diets on females with PCOS by comparing the results of several randomized clinical trials.

Keywords: antioxidants; hyperandrogenism; insulin resistance; phytochemicals; polycystic ovarian syndrome.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proposed physiological changes in PCOS. These hormonal imbalances caused by impaired negative feedback lead to a decreased sensitivity to insulin. As a result, an environment is created in which the B-cells of the pancreas must secrete more insulin in order to compensate, leading to insulin resistance. Up (↑) and down (↓) arrows indicate an increase and decrease, respectively, in the specific hormone discussed.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Search process of literature review.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.
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