Nutritional supplements and herbal medicines for women with polycystic ovary syndrome; a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common, reproductive endocrinopathy associated with serious short and long term health risks. Many women with PCOS use ingestible complementary medicines. This systematic review examined the effect on menstrual regulation and adverse effects...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12906-017-2011-x |
| _version_ | 1811217292728467456 |
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| author | Susan Arentz Caroline A. Smith Jason Abbott Alan Bensoussan |
| author_facet | Susan Arentz Caroline A. Smith Jason Abbott Alan Bensoussan |
| author_sort | Susan Arentz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common, reproductive endocrinopathy associated with serious short and long term health risks. Many women with PCOS use ingestible complementary medicines. This systematic review examined the effect on menstrual regulation and adverse effects from randomised controlled trials. Methods Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared herbal or nutritional supplements to placebo or active controls in women with PCOS were eligible for inclusion. Electronic databases were searched to July 2017. Study selection and assessment of quality were conducted independently by two review authors. Results Twenty four studies (1406 women) investigating seven nutritional supplements and four herbal medicines were included. No one study was assessed as having a low risk of bias. Four trials reported on the primary endpoint menstrual regulation. There was no evidence on improved menstrual regularity for calcium plus vitamin D compared to Metformin (RR: 0.66, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.23, p = 0.19), reduced amenorrhoea for Camellia sinensis compared to placebo (RR: 0.17, 95% CI 0.02 to 1.72, p = 0.13) and no difference in the number of menses per month for Cinnamomum sp. against placebo (MD 0.05, 95% CI -0.36 to 1.36, p = 0.26). Adverse effects were investigated in seven studies (164 women). Mild adverse effects were found for Cinnamomum sp. compared to placebo (17 women, RR: 0.36, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.70, p = 0.03). No difference was found for adverse effects between inositol, B complex vitamins, vitamin D, chromium and placebo. Improved reproduction, metabolic hormones and hyperandrogenism was found for inositol and improved cholesterol for omega three fish oils. Conclusion There is no high quality evidence to support the effectiveness of nutritional supplements and herbal medicine for women with PCOS and evidence of safety is lacking. High quality trials of nutritional supplements and herbal medicines examining menstrual regulation and adverse effects in women with PCOS are needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:51:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a8a733c9a80e43cdbde8dd4296685894 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6882 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:51:48Z |
| publishDate | 2017-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-a8a733c9a80e43cdbde8dd42966858942022-12-22T03:43:17ZengBMCBMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine1472-68822017-11-0117111410.1186/s12906-017-2011-xNutritional supplements and herbal medicines for women with polycystic ovary syndrome; a systematic review and meta-analysisSusan Arentz0Caroline A. Smith1Jason Abbott2Alan Bensoussan3National Institute of Complementary Medicine, Western Sydney UniversityNational Institute of Complementary Medicine, Western Sydney UniversitySchool of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of New South WalesNational Institute of Complementary Medicine, Western Sydney UniversityAbstract Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common, reproductive endocrinopathy associated with serious short and long term health risks. Many women with PCOS use ingestible complementary medicines. This systematic review examined the effect on menstrual regulation and adverse effects from randomised controlled trials. Methods Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared herbal or nutritional supplements to placebo or active controls in women with PCOS were eligible for inclusion. Electronic databases were searched to July 2017. Study selection and assessment of quality were conducted independently by two review authors. Results Twenty four studies (1406 women) investigating seven nutritional supplements and four herbal medicines were included. No one study was assessed as having a low risk of bias. Four trials reported on the primary endpoint menstrual regulation. There was no evidence on improved menstrual regularity for calcium plus vitamin D compared to Metformin (RR: 0.66, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.23, p = 0.19), reduced amenorrhoea for Camellia sinensis compared to placebo (RR: 0.17, 95% CI 0.02 to 1.72, p = 0.13) and no difference in the number of menses per month for Cinnamomum sp. against placebo (MD 0.05, 95% CI -0.36 to 1.36, p = 0.26). Adverse effects were investigated in seven studies (164 women). Mild adverse effects were found for Cinnamomum sp. compared to placebo (17 women, RR: 0.36, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.70, p = 0.03). No difference was found for adverse effects between inositol, B complex vitamins, vitamin D, chromium and placebo. Improved reproduction, metabolic hormones and hyperandrogenism was found for inositol and improved cholesterol for omega three fish oils. Conclusion There is no high quality evidence to support the effectiveness of nutritional supplements and herbal medicine for women with PCOS and evidence of safety is lacking. High quality trials of nutritional supplements and herbal medicines examining menstrual regulation and adverse effects in women with PCOS are needed.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12906-017-2011-xPolycystic ovary syndromePCOSSupplementsVitaminsHerbal medicineComplementary medicine |
| spellingShingle | Susan Arentz Caroline A. Smith Jason Abbott Alan Bensoussan Nutritional supplements and herbal medicines for women with polycystic ovary syndrome; a systematic review and meta-analysis BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine Polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS Supplements Vitamins Herbal medicine Complementary medicine |
| title | Nutritional supplements and herbal medicines for women with polycystic ovary syndrome; a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Nutritional supplements and herbal medicines for women with polycystic ovary syndrome; a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Nutritional supplements and herbal medicines for women with polycystic ovary syndrome; a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nutritional supplements and herbal medicines for women with polycystic ovary syndrome; a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Nutritional supplements and herbal medicines for women with polycystic ovary syndrome; a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | nutritional supplements and herbal medicines for women with polycystic ovary syndrome a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | Polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS Supplements Vitamins Herbal medicine Complementary medicine |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12906-017-2011-x |
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