Efficacy of a Persian Herbal Remedy and Electroacupuncture on Metabolic Profiles and Anthropometric Parameters in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: The most prevalent endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficaciousness of a Persian herbal remedy, as well as electroacupuncture and the combination of them on metabolic profiles and anthropometric parameters in these patients. Materials and Methods: Eighty overweight women with PCOS were randomly divided into four groups. All of them received metformin 1000 mg and the second group received 5 g of herbal medicine per day (main components: Foeniculum vulgare, Urtica dioica, and Daucus carota), the third group were subjected to 20 electroacupuncture sessions, and the fourth group received both therapies. Results: After 12 weeks, the body fat and body mass index decreased the most in the herbal medicine+electroacupuncture group, and waist to hip ratio decreased the most in the electroacupuncture group. A significant decrease was also observed in fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. A significant increase was seen in the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index in all intervention groups, but there was no noteworthy difference in these parameters in the control group. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased significantly in the electroacupuncture groups and herbal medicine+electroacupuncture. Also, a significant decrease was observed in triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase in the herbal medicine groups and herbal medicine+electroacupuncture. Conclusion: It is advisable to use this herbal remedy and electroacupuncture for better treatment of metabolic complications and overweight problems in these patients. [GMJ.2019;8:e1389]

Underlying mechanisms of acupuncture therapy on polycystic ovary syndrome: Evidences from animal and clinical studies

“…Abdominal acupuncture also improved insulin resistance in patients with obesity-type PCOS, which may be related to the efficacy of acupuncture treatment on body–mass index, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and lipid metabolism dysfunctions ( 43 ). Consistent with this study, EA was found to be effective in improving insulin resistance, as well as decreasing WHR and the levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ( 54 , 62 ). EA was also reported to attenuate insulin resistance by inactivating the mTOR/4E-BP1 signaling pathway in a rat model of PCOS ( 12 ).…”

A Review of Acupuncture Treatment for Infertility

“…Rouhani et al [28] reported that in the group who received metformin + electroacupuncture + herbal medicine showed the greatest decrease in body fat and BMI compared with the groups receiving metformin only, metformin + electroacupuncture group and metformin + electroacupuncture + herbal medicine group. High density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein decreased in the metformin + electroacupuncture group, and metformin + electroacupuncture + herbal medicine group so it was judged that the combination treatment with acupuncture and oriental medicine treatment could treat metabolic complications and overweight problems better than metformin alone.…”

Effects of natural products on polycystic ovary syndrome: From traditional medicine to modern drug discovery

“… Increase of menstrual bleeding. ↑Menstrual cyclicity [ 91 ] Decoction Persian herbal remedy Foeniculum vulgare, Urtica dioica, Daucus carota, Trifolium pratense, Curcuman longa 80 overweight women with PCOS 5 g/day; 12 weeks Reduction of PCOS risk ↓TC, LDL-C, TG, AST, ALT, HDL-C, [ 92 ] Decoction Shouwu Jiangqi Decoction Fallopia multiflora, Radix puerariae, Batryticated silkworm, Astragalus propinquus Schischkin, Dioscorea oppositifolia L ., Euonymus alatus, Cyperus rotundus L ., Cuscutae semen. 81 participants diagnosed with PCOS, aged 18-35 3 months The expectation of efficacy of SWJQD on the treatment of PCOS with kidney deficiency, phlegm, and blood stasis ↑Insulin sensitivity [ 93 ] Decoction Yijin-tang Pinellia ternata Breitenbach, Citrus unshiu Markovich, Poria cocos Wolf, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, Zingiber officinale Roscoe 15 PCOS women with oligomenorrhea 6 g; 12 weeks Decrease in the menstrual cycle and follicle number.…”

“…Rouhani et al revealed that Persian herbal remedies and electroacupuncture could be used as a better treatment of metabolic complications and overweight problems in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome [ 92 ]. Eighty overweight women with PCOS were randomly divided into four groups, the first group received metformin, the second group received metformin and Persian herbal remedy, the third group received metformin and electroacupuncture, and the fourth group received both therapies.…”

“…A total of 25 human studies have been conducted to confirm the effect of natural products on polycystic ovary syndrome. Most studies were performed on women with PCOS, aged approximately 18–45, and were confirmed by mechanisms such as TC, LDL, TG, and AST [ 73 , 75 , 76 , [78] , [79] , [80] , 84 , 86 , 88 , 89 , 92 ]. Five studies inhibit TC and six substances that inhibit T [ 73 , 76 , 77 , 83 , [86] , [87] , [88] , [89] , 92 ].…”