Potential roles of carnitine in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is recognized as the most prevalent endocrinopathy in reproductive-aged women. This systematic review was performed with focus on the current knowledge on carnitine concerning metabolic variables in PCOS. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov and Google Scholar databases were searched from inception until May 2018. All clinical trials and observational studies published in English-language journals were eligible. Studies that provided insufficient outcomes, animal and in vitro studies were excluded. Out of 451 articles identified in our search, only six articles were eligible for analysis. Two observational studies evaluated the association of serum carnitine levels with metabolic variables, and four clinical trials examined the effect of carnitine supplementation in patients with PCOS. Serum carnitine levels had inverse relationship with glycemic status, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. Also, carnitine supplementation resulted in improved weight loss, glycemic status, oxidative stress, follicles and size of ovarian cells; no significant effects were reported on sex hormones and lipid profile. According to the current evidence, carnitine might improve weight loss, glycemic status and oxidative stress. However, to explore the exact mechanisms of carnitine role in patients with PCOS, further studies are recommended.

摘要

多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）是育龄期女性最常见的内分泌疾病。本文专注于近年来关于PCOS肉毒碱的代谢参数相关研究进行了系统的回顾。从起初道2018年5月的PubMed、 Scopus、 Embase,、ClinicalTrials.gov和谷歌学术数据库进行了检索。发表在英文杂志上的所有的临床试验和观察性研究被纳入选择。结果不充分的研究、动物和体外研究被排除在外。在我们检索的451篇文章中, 只有6篇符合分析条件。两项观察性研究评估了血清肉毒碱水平与代谢参数的变化, 四项临床试验检测了PCOS患者补充肉毒碱的影响。血清肉毒碱水平与血糖、体重指数（BMI）、腰围呈负相关。此外补充肉毒碱还能减轻体重、血糖情况、氧化应激、卵泡和卵子的数量；对性激素和血脂没有显著的影响。根据目前的证据, 肉毒碱可能改善减重、血糖和氧化应激。然而为了探索肉毒碱在多囊卵巢综合征中的确切作用机制, 建议进一步的研究。

The Chinese abstracts are translated by Prof. Dr. Xiangyan Ruan and her team: Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100026, China.

Keywords:

• Carnitine
• polycystic ovary syndrome
• glycemic status
• oxidative stress

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences for their support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.