Effects of intestinal flora on polycystic ovary syndrome

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Mar 9:14:1151723. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1151723. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Its clinical characteristics are mainly oligo-ovulation or anovulation, hyperandrogenemia (HA) and insulin resistance (IR). PCOS is considered to be one of the main causes of infertility in women of childbearing age, and its pathogenesis is still unclear. Intestinal flora, known as the "second genome" of human beings, is closely related to metabolic diseases, immune diseases and infectious diseases. At the same time, mounting evidence suggests that intestinal flora can regulate insulin synthesis and secretion, affect androgen metabolism and follicular development, and is involved in the occurrence of chronic inflammation and obesity. The imbalance of intestinal flora is caused by the abnormal interaction between intestinal flora and host cells caused by the change of intestinal microbial diversity, which is related to the occurrence and development of PCOS. The adjustment of intestinal flora may be a potential direction for the treatment of PCOS.

Keywords: chronic inflammation; hyperandrogenemia; insulin resistance; intestinal flora; obesity; polycystic ovary syndrome.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anovulation*
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Humans
  • Hyperandrogenism* / complications
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* / metabolism

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (819MS061), Scientific Research Support Project of Colleges and Universities in Hainan Province (Hnky2019ZD-24), Research and Cultivation Foundation of Hainan Medical University (HYPY201910), National Natural Science Foundation of China (82160702), Academician workstation of Hainan province and the specific research fund of The Innovation Platform for Academicians of Hainan Province (No. YSPTZX202132).