PCOS Review Newsletter #57

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

Issue #057      May 5, 2008 Bill Slater, Research Associate

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) Volunteers Needed for PCOS Research Study

2) PCOS Women Found Low in Carnitine

3) Sleep Problems Worsen PCOS

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1) Volunteers Needed for PCOS Research Study

The Helfgott Research Institute at the National College for Natural Medicine needs women who have polycystic ovary syndrome to volunteer for a ground-breaking study. The study will investigate how effective the herb "Gymnema sylvestre" is for naturally treating PCOS.

Gymnema shows promise as a natural way to treat diabetes but until now there has been no research on this herb for helping PCOS.

We recommend that you enroll in this study if you live anywhere in Portland, Oregon, or the surrounding region. If you don't live in this region, we hope you'll pass this newsletter along to a friend in that region.

If you qualify for this study, you will be advancing research for the benefit of every woman who suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome. You will also obtain some very useful laboratory test data, absolutely free.

This is a great opportunity to help yourself as well as all women who have PCOS!

Click this link to find out if you qualify for this study and to get the phone number to call.

Click this link to find out more about the herb Gymnema.

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2) PCOS Women Found Low in Carnitine

A few months ago we reported a research study showing that a nutrient, l-carnitine, appears to stimulate scalp hair growth. Many women with polycystic ovary syndrome have issues with scalp hair loss. Could low carnitine levels be partially responsible?

Since sharing the hair growth research with you, we've come across another very interesting study regarding l-carnitine. It is the first study we know of that links PCOS with low carnitine levels.

In this study, 27 non-obese women with PCOS were compared to healthy non-PCOS women. The researchers discovered that the PCOS women had significantly lower carnitine levels than the healthy women. They also had higher male hormone levels and greater insulin resistance than the healthy women.

The researchers conclude: "Decreased total l-carnitine levels may be associated with hyperandrogenism and/or insulin resistance in non-obese women with PCOS."

We know that most women with polycystic ovarian syndrome have hyperandrogenism (excessively high male hormone levels) and insulin resistance. We don't know, but it's possible these imbalances may deplete carnitine levels.

Carnitine plays essential roles in your body, including metabolism of fat and glucose (blood sugar).

So if your carnitine levels are lower than optimal, your energy production and fat burning capability may be somewhat impaired. You may also have less carnitine available for scalp hair growth.

Research has shown that women who have a problem with polycystic ovary syndrome have lower levels of a number of vital nutrients, including carnitine, vitamin D, and inositol. Since you are likely to be low in these nutrients, it makes sense to take them as supplements. This is why we feature these nutrients in our online store.

Selective supplementation plays an important role in helping you to deal effectively with PCOS in a more natural way that has no side effects.

Of course, it's always wise to start with the "basics" of improved diet, increased exercise and better management of chronic stress. Mastering the basics will increase the effectiveness of any supplements that you take.

Useful links:
Carnitine nutritional supplement available here
Learn more about carnitine

Source:
Fenkci SM et al Serum total L-carnitine levels in non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome, Hum Reprod. 2008 Mar 31 [Epub ahead of print]

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3) Sleep Problems Worsen PCOS

You probably know intuitively that a good night's sleep makes you feel better and healthier. Your intuition is well supported by a large body of medical research.

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are insulin resistant and are at increased risk for sleep apnea, which, in turn, may contribute to insulin resistance, according to recent research.

A study at the University of Chicago showed that an astonishing 62% of women with PCOS had poor quality sleep. Many of them had a tendency for sleep apnea, which is difficulty breathing during sleep.

The disordered sleep led to increased insulin levels and reduced ability handle blood sugar, thus creating the very problems that you are trying to avoid.

Therefore, it's critical that you do everything you possibly can to get a good night's sleep every night. Doing so will pay huge health dividends.

Sources:
Tasali E et al, Relationships between sleep disordered breathing and glucose metabolism in polycystic ovary syndrome, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006 Jan;91(1):36-42
Tasali E et al, Slow-wave sleep and the risk of type 2 diabetes in humans, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Jan 22;105(3):1044-9

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Thought for Today: "We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face ... we must do that which we think we cannot." -- Eleanor Roosevelt