Quercetin and polycystic ovary syndrome, current evidence and future directions: a systematic review

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a polygenic endocrine disorder and the most common gynecological endocrinopathy among reproductive-aged women. Current remedies are often used only to control its signs and symptoms, while they are not thoroughly able to prevent complications. Quercetin is an herbal bioactive flavonoid commonly used for the treatment of metabolic and inflammatory disorders. Thus, this systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of quercetin supplementation in subjects with PCOS. Databases until March 2019 were searched. All human clinical trials and animal models evaluating the effects of quercetin on PCOS women were included. Out of 253 articles identified in our search, 8 eligible articles (5 animal studies and 3 clinical trials) were reviewed. The majority of studies supported the beneficial effects of quercetin on the ovarian histomorphology, folliculogenesis, and luteinisation processes. The effects of quercetin on reducing the levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and insulin resistance were also reported. Although quercetin improved dyslipidemia, no significant effect was reported for weight loss. It is suggested that the benefits of quercetin may be more closely related to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory features of quercetin rather than weight-reducing effects. Therefore, this review article provides evidence that quercetin could be considered as a potential agent to attenuate PCOS complications. However, due to the paucity of high-quality clinical trials, further studies are needed.

Nutrition in Gynecological Diseases: Current Perspectives

“…These natural compounds are emerging as important mediators in the pathogenesis of many reproductive disorders, such as PCOS. Among them, quercetin as a bioflavonoid with antioxidant activity is effective in PCOS therapy [ 57 ]. It is reported that quercetin may reduce many androgens in rats [ 58 ].…”

Investigation of the Mechanism of Zishen Yutai Pills on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Approach

“…Quercetin is also found to reduce high testosterone levels, luteinizing hormone (LH), and insulin resistance in PCOS. Multiple studies have postulated that the benefits of quercetin could be due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and concluded that quercetin could be considered as a possible treatment for PCOS [ 42 ].…”

The Potential Effect of Rhizoma coptidis on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

“…Quercetin has the effect of radical scavenging and antioxidant properties [ 29 ]. Studies have shown that quercetin can improve ovarian tissue; it may prevent PCOS complications by improving IR and chronic inflammation and reduce testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and resistin levels, and it can increase the insulin sensitivity by promoting the proliferation of pancreatic β -cells [ 30 ]. Quercetin can decrease resistin plasma concentration and gene expression, reduce LH and testosterone level in overweight or obese women with PCOS, and improve insulin resistance [ 31 ].…”