Abstract
BACKGROUND: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is known as the most common endocrine disorder of women in reproductive ages. With the increasing prevalence of PCOS in different countries, the use of herbal medicine as an alternative treatment is growing in these patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of flaxseed powder supplementation on metabolic biomarkers of patients with PCOS. METHODS: This randomized open-labeled controlled clinical trial was conducted on 41 patients with PCOS. The participants were randomized to take either flaxseed powder (30 g/day) plus lifestyle modification or only lifestyle modification for 12 weeks. Anthropometric and biochemical evaluations were performed for all patients at the beginning and end of the study. RESULTS: The flaxseed group showed a significant reduction in body weight, insulin concentration, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), Triglycerides (TG), high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), and leptin and an increase in Quantitative Insulin-Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), and adiponectin compared to the baseline (p < 0.05). Flaxseed supplementation also led to a significant reduction in insulin concentration, HOMA-IR, TG, hs-CRP, Interleukin 6 (IL- 6), and leptin and an increase in QUICKI, HDL, and adiponectin compared to the control group (p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in other parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Flaxseed supplementation plus lifestyle modification was more effective compared to lifestyle modification alone in biochemical and anthropometric variables in patients with PCOS.
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Key Points
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is known as the most common endocrine disorder of women in reproductive ages, with the prevalence ranging from 6 to 15%. The most common clinical manifestations of this syndrome include irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, acne, hair loss with the male pattern, Insulin Resistance (IR), and obesity. Lifestyle modifications, such as dietary pattern, exercise, and behavioral therapies, are the first line of treatment for PCOS.
There is little data regarding the effects of flaxseed powder supplementation on lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, inflammatory markers, leptin, adiponectin, and menstrual irregularities in patients with PCOS. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the effects of flaxseed powder on metabolic and anthropometric statuses in these patients. Here flaxseed powder consumption caused a significant improvement in the menstrual cycle regulation. Most of the subjects in this trial had menstrual cycle disturbance.
In the current study, flaxseed supplementation reduced TG level and increased HDL level compared to the control group. The present study findings indicated that daily flaxseed supplementation decreased leptin level and improved adiponectin level. In the current study, flaxseed intake was associated with lower levels of hs-CRP. The present study findings demonstrated that flaxseed supplementation for 12 weeks led to a significant reduction in body weight, waist circumference, and BMI in the women with PCOS. Obesity is one of the main causes of the onset of PCOS. The present study was the first report of the effects of flaxseed powder on glycemic indices, lipid profile, inflammatory factors, adipocytokines, and androgen profile in women with PCOS. The results indicated that flaxseed powder supplementation (30 g/day) among patients with PCOS for 12 weeks had beneficial effects on insulin metabolism, body composition related factors, hs-CRP, TG, HDL, adiponectin, leptin, and mF-G score. In conclusion, this randomized controlled clinical trial found some evidence that flaxseed supplementation in patients with PCOS could improve some biochemical and anthropometric markers, at least partially, through amelioration of dyslipidemia, obesity, IR, and inflammation. Yet, further studies are needed to identify the exact mechanisms of these beneficial effects and to determine the safe dosages. As a summary, this randomized controlled clinical trial is one of the first studies to document the beneficial effects of 12-week supplementation with 30 g/day flaxseed in polycystic ovary syndrome.