title: Effect of folic acid in women with and without insulin resistance who have hyperhomocysteinemic polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of folic acid on homocysteine (Hcy) levels in women with insulin resistance and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in a prospective clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 210 women with PCOS, 70 were hyperhomocysteinemic; and of these, 32 were insulin resistant and 38 were not. The 70 women were treated with folic acid for 3 months. Baseline and serum levels of Hcy and insulin were measured in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both groups Hcy concentrations were significantly decreased following folic acid supplementation. The mean+/-SD levels before and after treatment were 14.03+/-1.5 micromol/L and 12.53+/-1.72 micromol/L in group 1 (P<0.001), and they were 12.07+/-0.87 micromol/L and 8.83+/-0.78 micromol/L in group 2 (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Hcy levels of hyperhomocysteinemic women with PCOS were reduced after 3 months of folic acid supplementation, and the rate of reduction was higher among women without insulin resistance. No change was found in fasting insulin levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. kazeront@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Talieh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kazerooni
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asadi
authors.forename: Sedigheh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dehbashi
authors.forename: Jaleh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zolghadri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid