Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS), or Stein-Leventhal syndrome, is a hormonal disorder that affects millions of women. It is a common endocrine problem in women of reproductive age and is associated with infertility, overproduction of androgenic hormones, and diabetes.
This condition is associated with the following symptoms:
- irregular menstrual cycles – menstruation may be less or more frequent due to less frequent ovulation (release of an egg)
- reduced fertility (difficulty in becoming pregnant) – related to less frequent or absent ovulation
- amenorrhoea (no periods) – some women with PCOS do not menstruate, in some cases for many years
- mood changes – including anxiety and depression
- obesity
- sleep apnea
- acne
- scalp hair loss
- excessive facial or body hair growth (or both)
Depending on the symptoms you experience, you can manage PCOS symptoms by eating a healthy diet, increasing your physical activity levels, seriously quitting birth control pills, stabilizing your blood sugar, and weight reduction.
Moreover, in a study which was published in The Journal Of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, it was found that resveratrol may be beneficial to women suffering from PCOS.
The study was conducted by a team of researchers at Poznan University of Medical Sciences in Poland and the University of California, San Diego. Thirty-four women with PCOS were involved in the study which was carried out for more than three months. After receiving 1,500mg of resveratrol daily, participants with PCOS experienced a 23.1 % decrease in testosterone levels, 22.2% reduction in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels and a 31.8 percent decrease in insulin levels. Meanwhile, those who received the placebo treatment experienced a 2.9 increase in testosterone levels.
With these results, the researchers concluded that resveratrol significantly reduced ovarian and adrenal androgens. It can reduce levels of insulin, testosterone, and DHEAS thereby making it an effective treatment for PCOS.
What Is Resveratrol?
Resveratrol act like antioxidants. It is believed to be one of the most powerful polyphenols and strongest protectors against symptoms associated with aging and free radical damage. The most naturally abundant sources of resveratrol are the skin of red grapes, raw cocoa, red wine and dark berries such as blueberries, mulberries, lingonberries, and bilberries.
Some of the well-known benefits of resveratrol are the following:
- May Help Prevent Obesity
- Has Anti-Aging and Anti-Cancer Effects
- Helps Protect the Brain and Cognitive/Mental Health
- Benefits Those with Diabetes or Prediabetes
- Protects Cardiovascular Health