Dietary supplements may help with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS is very common medical condition that affects about 10-12 percent of women.

Over the past several decades the incidence of this medical condition is increasing. One could debate whether or not it is through better diagnosis of the medical condition or that the medical condition itself is actually becoming more common. The bottom line is that a lot of women are affected by PCOS and some dietary supplements may help.

There are only a few consistent findings with PCOS: increase in facial and body hair; irregular menstruation with associated fertility issues. An additional finding is that there are multiple cysts in the ovaries, hence the name polycystic ovarian syndrome. Although many women with PCOS are overweight, this is not a diagnostic finding but does contribute significantly to the outcome of the illness.

One might think that polycystic ovary syndrome is the result of changes in estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. However, apparently the root cause of PCOS has to do with insulin resistance and ultimately diabetes.

In the developing ovarian follicle there are basically two sets of cells that make hormones. The granulocytic cells inside the ovarian follicle produce progesterone and the thecal cells on the outside of the follicle produce estrogen. People with insulin resistance may not have overt diabetes but they make more insulin than somebody who does not have insulin resistance. Higher levels of insulin prevent the thecal cells from producing estrogen. Instead, they start producing more testosterone. It is believed that this increased relative level of testosterone then leads to the growth of facial and abdominal hair as well as resulting in irregular menstrual cycles and infertility.

The traditional treatment of PCOS is birth control pills. However, this is not getting to the underlying medical condition which is insulin resistance. More recently the use of a diabetes medication, metformin, has improved insulin resistance and, in some cases reversed the symptoms of PCOS. Weight loss, stress reduction, regular exercise and a number of dietary supplements may also improve insulin resistance and reestablish a balanced hormone system.

Cinnamon use has been shown to reduce insulin resistance in both animal studies and human trials. Some studies have indicated that low chromium levels increase the risk of insulin resistance and diabetes. Supplemental chromium may help. Other studies have suggested that N-acetylcysteine may reduce insulin resistance and improve ovulation rates and hormone levels. Saw palmetto is often used in men with mild symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. It inhibits 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that also affects PCOS.

Our lifestyles are very conducive to insulin resistance and diabetes. Insulin resistance has been linked to many chronic illnesses, not just PCOS. Stress, processed foods, environmental toxins and lack of exercise all contribute to insulin resistance and insulin resistance is the root cause of PCOS.

• Patrick B. Massey, MD, PH.D., is medical director for complementary and alternative medicine at Alexian Brothers Hospital Network and president of ALT-MED Medical and Physical Therapy, 1544 Nerge Road, Elk Grove Village. His website is www.alt-med.org.