title: The effects of folate supplementation on inflammatory factors and biomarkers of oxidative stress in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to determine the effects of folate supplementation on inflammatory factors and biomarkers of oxidative stress among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted among 69 women diagnosed with PCOS and aged 18-40 year old. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups receiving the following: (1) folate-1: 1 mg/d folate supplements (N = 23); (2) folate-5: 5 mg/d folate supplements (N = 23) and (3) placebo (N = 23) for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks to measure homocysteine (Hcy), inflammatory factors including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), nitric oxide (NO), biomarkers of oxidative stress including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and homoeostatic model assessment-beta cell function (HOMA-B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Supplementation with 5 mg/d folate resulted in reduced plasma Hcy (-2·23 vs -1·86 and 1·16 μm, respectively, P < 0·05), HOMA-B (-7·63 vs 1·43 and 13·66, respectively, P < 0·05), serum hs-CRP (-212·2 vs -262·4 and 729·8 μg/l, respectively, P < 0·05) and plasma MDA concentrations (-0·48 vs -0·24 and 0·69 μm, respectively, P < 0·01) compared with folate-1 and placebo groups. Furthermore, a significant rise in plasma TAC (0·64 vs -3·53 and -215·47 mm, respectively, P < 0·01) and GSH levels (162·1 vs 195·8 and -158·2 μm, respectively, P < 0·01) was also observed following the administration of 5 mg/d folate supplements compared with folate-1 and placebo groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, folate supplementation (5 mg/d) in women with PCOS had beneficial effects on inflammatory factors and biomarkers of oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bahmani
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karamali
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shakeri
authors.forename: Zatollah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Asemi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity; D050177:Overweight; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005492:Folic Acid; D005978:Glutathione