Metabolic response to folate supplementation in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.
METHODS
This study was conducted to determine the effects of folate supplementation on metabolic profiles in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).


RESULTS
This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted among 81 obese women (weight range: 65-110 kg) aged 18-40 year old diagnosed with PCOS. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups receiving: (1) Folate-1: 1 mg/day folate supplements (n = 27); (2) Folate-5: 5 mg/day folate supplements (n = 27), and (3) placebo (n = 27) for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after 8 weeks' intervention to quantify glucose metabolism and lipid concentrations. Folate supplementation (5 mg), compared with folate-1 and placebo, resulted in reduced plasma homocysteine (p-interaction = 0.009), homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance score (p-interaction = 0.01), and total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio (p-interaction = 0.01). Furthermore, we found a significant difference in mean change of serum total cholesterol (p-interaction = 0.01), LDL- (p-interaction = 0.007), and non-HDL-cholesterol levels (p = 0.01) in the folate-5 group compared with folate-1 and placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
5 mg/day folate supplementation for 8 weeks among women with PCOS had beneficial effects on metabolic profiles.
Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
Zatollah
Z
Asemi
Maryam
M
Karamali
Ahmad
A
Esmaillzadeh
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007492:Iran; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D005492:Folic Acid
Folate; Glucose metabolism; Lipid concentrations; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Supplementation