4 Supplements you should consider if you have PCOS

PCOS is a hormonal dysfunction that we see frequently in our clinical practice. It is associated with skipped periods, increased testosterone levels (acne, annoying facial hair), and some enlargement of ovaries on sonograms. PCOS can make it more difficult to become pregnant. It can cause inflammation in our bodies and can be related to problems with insulin and carbohydrate metabolism. Women with this can have trouble losing weight.

Patients ask me all the time for nutritional or herbal supplements that could help manage the symptoms and ovulation disruptions of PCOS.

I found an excellent review article in the Journal of Preventive Medicine; reference the original below. Many supplements have not been subjected to as much scrutiny as prescription medication. If you try supplements, please select from a company that guarantees purity, such as USP or NSF certification.

The prescription medication Metformin has been considered a first-line drug of choice for PCOS management. Unfortunately,  it can cause stomach upset and other bothersome side effects, and their efficacy in non-insulin-resistant normal-weight patients is controversial. In this review article below, the authors discussed the therapeutic effects of four natural molecules.

1.  Curcumin (found in the herb turmeric) has anti-inflammatory effects, improves hyperandrogenism (high testosterone levels), lowers LH, reduces insulin resistance, and induces ovulation in women with PCOS.

2. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism, improving insulin sensitivity, decreasing insulin resistance, and suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines (those chemical messengers that can cause hormone imbalance). Vitamin D is also significantly involved in facilitating successful pregnancy. Other studies have reported a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and female infertility. Likewise, some studies show that vitamin D supplementation with myoinositol and melatonin increases pregnancy rates. We recommend 2000 IU daily.

3. Inositol lowers insulin resistance, improves reproductive function, improves egg quality, and restores ovulation in patients with PCOS.

4. CoQ10 exerts anti-inflammatory effects by decreasing the production of  inflammatory cytokines (chemical messengers that regulate inflammation) 

in PCOS. Inflammation in the wrong setting can cause hormonal imbalances.

Kiani AK, Donato K, Dhuli K, Stuppia L, Bertelli M. Dietary supplements for polycystic ovary syndrome. J Prev Med Hyg 2022;63(suppl.3):E206-E213. https://doi.org/10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2022.63.2S3.2762