PCOS is a prevalent female endocrinopathy, affecting 4 to 25% of females of reproductive age. PCOS is diagnosed when a minimum of two criteria are met: irregular menstrual cycles or ovulatory dysfunctions, biochemical or clinical hyperandrogenism, and ovaries exhibiting polycystic morphology at an ultrasound scan.
PCOS has a complex etiology, with each person's vulnerability being influenced by different environmental and genetic risk factors like lifestyle and diet. PCOS pathogenesis may be significantly impacted by oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation.
Researchers have recently reviewed existing studies to determine the limitations and efficacy of a PCOS treatment approach relying on ALA, a naturally occurring amphipathic substance with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, for reducing androgen levels, enhancing reproductive outcomes, and ameliorating insulin resistance among PCOS patients. There were 14 studies that were reviewed between 2010 and 2022 that were primarily carried out in Italy. The study found that ALA s a valid therapeutic approach in PCOS treatment. Its multiple effects, including antioxidant, insulin-sensitizing, and anti-inflammatory, may be crucial in PCOS management, an extremely complex syndrome. The antioxidant activity of ALA is probably crucial for enhancing oocyte or egg quality among PCOS patients. According to studies, ALA lowers oxidative stress and boosts egg quality in women with PCOS undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) therapy. In addition, using alpha lipoic acid combine with another drug called myoinositol demonstrated better performance in lowering the insulin response following an oral glucose tolerance analysis. Women with PCOS who took MYO and ALA supplements exhibited an improvement in their hormonal levels, including sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), androstenedione, free androgen index (FAI), DHEAS, and AMH. Therefore, in conclusion it was shown that higher-quality embryos, enhanced birth and pregnancy rates, and better follicular maturation when ALA was combined with folic acid and MYO when insulin resistance is proven to be a diagnostic marker. More studies will have to be done to corroborate the studies that were reviewed, since most were completed in Italy.
