PCOS Review Newsletter #51

A free health newsletter for women with polycystic ovary syndrome or polycystic ovaries.

Issue #051      December 15, 2007
Nancy Dunne, N.D., Naturopathic Physician
Bill Slater, Research Associate

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) Nutritional Supplement Helps You Ovulate

2) Protect Your Brain and Avoid Alzheimer's

3) Acupuncture May Help PCOS and Ovulation

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1) Nutritional Supplement Helps You Ovulate

Researchers at Mansoura University in Egypt recently announced that "N-acetyl cysteine is proved effective in inducing or augmenting ovulation in polycystic ovary patients", according to their new study.

At the Vita-Salute University in Italy, researchers studied 25 PCOS women who were not having their cycle. At a dose of 4,000 milligrams a day, they were given a combination of inositol and folic acid (another B vitamin) for six months.

N-acetyl cysteine, known as NAC, is an amino acid that is available as a nutritional supplement (available at our online store). Amino acids are building blocks for proteins.

In this study, 470 PCOS women were given Clomid (clomiphene citrate) for one menstrual cycle and then given Clomid plus NAC for another cycle. The women took 1,200 mg of NAC for 5 days starting on day 3 of the menstrual cycle.

With Clomid alone, the ovulation rate was 17.9% but when the NAC was added, the ovulation rate was 52.1%. Progesterone levels and thickness of the uterine wall were reported to be also improved.

This study confirms an earlier study that the effectiveness of Clomid is increased when NAC is also taken. We refer to this earlier study on our NAC webpage. NAC is regarded as safe and has no side effects. It also appears useful for reducing insulin resistance, which is a big problem in polycystic ovarian syndrome.

NAC is a supplement to seriously consider.

Source:
Badaway et al, N-Acetyl cysteine and clomiphene citrate for induction of ovulation in polycystic ovary syndrome: a cross-over trial, Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2007;86(2):218-22

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2) Protect Your Brain and Avoid Alzheimer's (Part 1)

There was recent mention in the medical literature about a possible link between PCOS and Alzheimer's disease, although we're not aware of any actual studies on this topic.

However, we're concerned about the possible increased long-term risk of decreased cognitive function, brain atrophy, dementia and even Alzheimer's for women with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin problems.

"Insulin resistance", a condition where insulin is not efficiently utilized, is thought to be a primary contributor to PCOS symptoms as well as infertility. But there is one consequence of insulin resistance that your doctor has probably never discussed with you: the effect on your brain.

Insulin resistance is associated with age-related memory impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Insulin resistance can occur inside the brain, where it appears to have an inflammatory effect. It also appears to have an effect on beta-amyloid peptide, a brain protein involved in Alzheimer's.

For a multitude of reasons, including brain function, we think it is very important that you find out whether or not you have insulin resistance. To learn what lab test you should consider, go to our glucose and insulin lab test web page.

We have an extensive discussion of insulin resistance in our book, The Natural Diet Solution for PCOS and Infertility. If you don't have this book, we suggest you get it. Healthy diet and regular exercise play an absolutely crucial role in controlling insulin resistance.

There's a second reason for our concern about your future brain function.

Last year we reported to you that women with PCOS have reduced lung function. We have come across another study that shows a link between the inability to properly breathe and brain disorders. In this study, men with the poorest lung function had measurable reduction in brain size, plus slower information processing speed and impaired dexterity.

We strongly recommend that you be as physically active as possible. Physical activity and regular exercise is a good way to increase lung function and reduce insulin resistance. Of course, we are assuming that you don't smoke!

There's a lot more to the brain story. In a future issue, we'll talk about how stress and a medication you may be taking could contribute to brain problems.

Finally, let's get clear about what polycystic ovary syndrome really is. It is not a simple disorder in your ovaries that can be "fixed" by taking birth control pills. Don't be fooled into thinking there is a single magic pill out there that will make PCOS disappear.

You are dealing with a very complex disorder that affects nearly every organ in your body…including your brain. You will need to take a more comprehensive, in-depth approach if you want to minimize the long-term consequences of this disease. We urge you to start -- or continue -- with the basics such as improved diet and more exercise.

Source:
Sabayan B et al Are women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) at higher risk for development of Alzheimer disease?, Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2007 Jul-Sep;21(3):265-7
Teede HJ et al Insulin resistance, the metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease risk in women with PCOS, Endocrine. 2006 Aug;30(1):45-53
Craft S Insulin resistance and Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis: potential mechanisms and implications for treatment, Curr Alzheimer Res. 2007 Apr;4(2):147-52
Sachdev PS et al Pulmonary function, cognitive impairment and brain atrophy in a middle-aged community sample, Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2006;21(5-6):300-8

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3) Acupuncture May Help PCOS and Ovulation

The Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at Goteborg University in Sweden has published a review article about acupuncture as a method for treating polycystic ovarian syndrome and infertility. Unlike medications, acupuncture does not have any side effects.

The review says polycystic ovarian syndrome is associated with sympathetic nerve dysfunction. Thus, optimizing the sympathetic nervous system with acupuncture may be helpful.

They conclude, "Clearly, acupuncture can affect PCOS via modulation of…the sympathetic nervous system, the endocrine and the neuroendocrine system."

The state of your nerve and energy transmission system in your body is largely overlooked by the average doctor. Acupuncture has been effective for hundreds of years in treating all kinds of health problems.

Consider adding an experienced acupuncturist or Oriental Medical Doctor (OMD) to your personal healthcare team.

Source:
Stener-Vuictorin E et al, Acupuncture in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Current Experimental and Clinical Evidence, J Neuroendocrinol. 2007 Nov 28 [Epub ahead of print]

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Thought for Today: "The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can." -- Robert Cushing