Objective: The effect of antioxidant supplements on glucose metabolism and lipid profiles in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate whether antioxidant supplements improve glucose metabolism and lipid profiles in women with PCOS to provide optimal nutritional supplement advice in clinical practice. Methods: The search was conducted across multiple medical databases from inception to January 1, 2022 and performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A random effects model was used to calculate the overall effects. Results: Eighteen trials (1113 participants) were included. Antioxidant supplements significantly improved insulin resistance (95% CI, -0.62, -0.30; p < 0.00001; I2 =48%), fasting insulin (95% CI, -0.80, -0.44; p < 0.00001; I2 = 48%), and fasting plasma glucose (95% CI, -0.54, -0.21; p < 0.00001; I2 = 38%) in patients with PCOS. However, antioxidant supplements were found to not improve most indices of lipid profiles in PCOS except triglyceride. Conclusions: Antioxidant supplements are an effective intervention for relieving insulin resistance but do not significantly improve lipid metabolism in women with PCOS.
Keywords: Antioxidant supplements; glucose metabolism; lipid profiles; meta-analysis; oxidative stress; polycystic ovary syndrome; 多囊卵巢综合征; 抗氧化剂补充剂; 氧化应激; 糖代谢; 荟萃分析; 血脂谱.