BACKGROUND<\/p>\n
Oxidative stress might be associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but relatively small studies published to date do not permit reaching a definitive conclusion. We aimed at conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating circulating markers of oxidative stress in patients with PCOS.<\/p>\n
METHODS<\/p>\n
We conducted a systematic review of studies reporting circulating markers of oxidative stress in women with PCOS and controls published up to June 2012, using Entrez PubMed and EMBASE online facilities. Meta-analysis calculated standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (95CI).<\/p>\n
RESULTS<\/p>\n
From 1633 potential studies identified electronically, 68 studies, including 4933 PCOS patients and 3671 controls, were selected. For each of nine circulating markers of oxidative stress, an individual meta-analysis was conducted. Compared with control women, patients with PCOS presented higher circulating concentrations of homocysteine (23% increase, SMD 0.6, 95CI, 0.4–0.8), malondialdehyde (47% increase, SMD 1.9, 95CI 1.2–2.6) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (36% increase, SMD 1.1, 95CI 0.6–1.6), and increased superoxide dismutase activity (34% increase, SMD 1.0, 95CI 0.5–1.4) and decreased glutathione levels (50% decrease, SMD –3.7, 95CI –6.2 to –1.2) and paraoxonase-1 activity (32% decrease, SMD –0.9, 95CI –1.3 to –0.4). Similar results were found when restricting the analyses to studies in which patients and controls were matched for age and body mass index.<\/p>\n
CONCLUSIONS<\/p>\n
Circulating markers of oxidative stress are abnormal in women with PCOS independent of weight excess. This finding suggests that oxidative stress may participate in the pathophysiology of this common disorder.<\/p>\n
Source: BACKGROUND Oxidative stress might be associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but relatively small studies published to date do not permit reaching a definitive conclusion. We aimed at conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating circulating markers of … Continue reading
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