Garlic Provides Promising Help for Women with Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition affecting women of reproductive age. Metabolic syndrome is more common for women with PCOS than for women without. Can garlic help?
PCOS is the most common cause of ovulatory infertility. It is caused by insulin resistance, excessive male hormones and cholesterol problems. In women with PCOS, excessive male hormones is associated with elevated homocysteine. Garlic has been shown to reduce homocysteine levels by 30%.
This double-blind study study gave either a placebo or 500mg of garlic, standardized for 2-3mg of allicin, twice a day for 8 weeks to women with PCOS and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic Syndrome is the increasingly common constellation of any three of abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, low HDL-cholesterol, high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar.
The garlic was significantly superior to placebo for weight loss, body mass index, waist circumference and hip circumference.
Garlic was significantly more effective at improving systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and the CRP marker of inflammation. It was also significantly better at increasing Sex Hormone Binding Globulin, which helps regulate sex hormones.
Garlic was also significantly superior at reducing fasting blood sugar.
Garlic also notably improved all domains on the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain.
The women in the garlic group also had significantly greater improvement in hirsutism (excessive male-pattern hair growth), acne, infertility, menstrual problems and emotional disturbances: all problems associated with PCOS.
This study suggests the exciting possibility that garlic supplements can significantly improve metabolic syndrome aspects of PCOS.
J Health Popul Nutr. 2025 Aug 6;44:282.
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