Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences
 

« Back to Farmacia Journal 2/2018

PHYTOESTROGENS AND THE POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF CLINICAL EVIDENCE AND LABORATORY FINDINGS

MONA NAJAF NAJAFI 1, JAMAL KASAIAN 2, LEDA KOVATSI 3, GRIGORIOS LEON 4, ELNAZ KHANI SOLOUT 5, MAHMOUD HASHEMZAEI 6, RAMIN REZAEE 1, PARVANEH MODIRAMANI 7, MASUMEH GHAZANFARPOUR 8*

1.Clinical Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2.Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
3.Laboratory of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece
4.Medicolegal office, Alexandras Ave. 120, Athens, Greece
5.Department of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
6.Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
7.Central Library, Scientific Resources Office. Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
8.Evidence-Based Care Research Centre, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
*corresponding author: Masoumeh.Ghazanfarpour@yahoo.com

Download Full Article PDF

The aim of this review was to identify the effect of phytoestrogens on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (clinical evidence and laboratory findings) in women of reproductive age. Major databases were systematically searched until 1st July 2017. The Jadad scale was used for evaluating the quality of trials. Compared to placebo, there is a variable and inconclusive result regarding the effect of soy on testosterone. The luteinizing hormone (LH), the follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) are not affected significantly either. No significant changes in the menstrual cycle were observed following treatment with soy. Following the administration of flaxseed, testosterone and DHEAS levels did not change significantly but 33.3% of patients had a normal menstrual cycle and 10% of patients become pregnant. Cimicifuga racemosa alone, or in combination with clomiphene, had a beneficial effect on decreasing serum LH. Ninety-five percent of patients reported irregular cycle at baseline, while 71.4% of patients receiving fenugreek seed extract (Trigonella foenum-graecum) had a normal cycle at the end of the study. There is scientific evidence that phytoestrogens, such as flaxseed and the fenugreek seed extract, may have effects on ovulation regulation. However, the currently available evidence on the effect of phytoestrogens on PCOS endocrine disorder is inconclusive.