A New Addition to Fighting Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a very common problem for women of reproductive age. It affects 5-10% of the population, with as many as 5 million American women suffering from it. That is troubling because PCOS is the most common cause of ovulatory infertility. New help is on the way.
Women with PCOS suffer from at least 2 of the following:
- Elevated levels of male hormones
- Infrequent periods or lack of periods and ovulation
- Enlarged ovaries with lots of small cysts
PCOS has long known to be mainly caused by insulin resistance and excessive amounts of male hormones. It is now known, though, that lipid abnormalities, including high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol and elevated triglycerides play an important role in the development of PCOS (Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2019;58(4):447-53).
That makes garlic an interesting herb for PCOS because it is great for blood sugar and insulin resistance, and it is great for cholesterol. So, a new study set out to test whether garlic could improve lipid levels in women with PCOC.
The double-blind study included 80 women with PCOS. They each took either a placebo or 800mg a day of garlic for 8 weeks.
Supplementing garlic significantly reduced total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol compared to the placebo group. Though not enough to reach significance, there was also a trend toward lower triglycerides and systolic blood pressure.
This study shows that garlic improves lipid profiles in women with PCOS and suggests, perhaps for the first time, that garlic may be good for PCOS.
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For much more on treating PCOS naturally, see our Sex & Fertility: Natural Solutions.
For comprehensive help with PCOS and reproductive health, make an appointment to see Linda Woolven now. Linda’s clinic is now open for virtual appointments.
The Natural Path is intended for educational purposes only and is in no way intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For health problems, consult a qualified health practitioner for a comprehensive program.
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