PCOS: iodine deficiency, berberine, and a low/moderate carb diet may help.

PCOS - Polycystic ovary syndrome; Cystic ovaries - symptom of iodine deficiency. Ovaries need iodine second only to the thyroid. And all of our glands need iodine too.

Polycystic ovary syndrome can cause insulin resistance, weight gain may be a problem, and elevated testosterone levels for females and facial hair and excess hair growth may occur. It also can cause infertility. It shouldn’t really cause pain during sexual intimacy though. Hormonal effects cause metabolic differences. Treatments are in use for PCOS but the condition is considered uncurable (1) - which is a nocebo. It sets up a negative expectation in a patient and their family.

*More posts are in this series, most recent: Pomegranate helps PCOS or CoV issues - win/win (and many other things) and is in season in Northern Hemisphere. / & #Index of recent Posts (substack.com) *the index is about other things though.

An overview of medications and symptoms of PCOS, (1), mentions that a low starch/dairy diet, and/or weight loss of 10-15% are lifestyle changes that may help. (1) which includes treatments used for infertility associated with PCOS. Metformin is mentioned but “Metformin is not approved by the FDA for treating PCOS-related infertility.” (1) Berberine has a similar benefit as Metformin without the side effect risks and is available at specialty supplement shops.

Berberine is phytonutrient found in Barberries. (Cooksillustrated.com, What are Dried Barberries? - They are very tart, and available in India groceries)

Iodine deficiency is not mentioned, and it would be a cure for iodine deficiency, however if early childhood development or organ health was chronically affected, those changes may remain. Inflammation and pain would likely be reduced though. Cysts are an inflamed swelling.

Berberine, iodine and moderate carbohydrate diets are all possibly beneficial for PCOS.

A friend loves at all times. - Proverbs 17:17, BibleverseImages.com.

Friendly info: What might help PCOS?

Adequate iodine, (4), moderate low carb diet ratio, (5), and berberine (2, 3) might help. Insulin resistance seems to be part of the problem with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, (PCOS).

“According to studies, an Iodine Deficiency may in fact be a cause of PCOS! Dr. Jorge Flechas wrote a study claiming: “Iodine deficiency may cause the ovaries to develop cysts, nodules and scar tissue. At its worse this ovarian pathology is very similar to that of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).” (4)

Mitochondrial support nutrients, antioxidants, ketone supplements for extra calories or a ketogenic diet might help. The condition seems to involve mitochondrial DNA differences which makes oxidative stress more of a risk. Iodine and polyphenols such a berberine can help with oxidative stress.

This post led to a follow-up post with more information about mitochondria in PCOS. Restoring iodine levels may help reduce cystic pain and swelling but mitochondria need more help too.

PCOS and Mitochondrial dysfunction; also an Agilent Whitepaper about detecting mitochondrial toxicity for drug safety.

Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and the information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes. 

Reference List

1. “PCOS Pain Caused Kelly Ripa to Pass Out During Sex — The talk-show host shares about her condition in an upcoming memoir” (medpagetoday.com/popmedicine/celebritydiagnosis/100847)

2. Mishra N, Verma R, Jadaun P. Study on the Effect of Berberine, Myoinositol, and Metformin in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Prospective Randomised Study. Cureus. 2022 Jan 31;14(1):e21781. doi: 10.7759/cureus.21781. PMID: 35251851; PMCID: PMC8890747. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8890747/

3. Rondanelli M, Infantino V, Riva A, Petrangolini G, Faliva MA, Peroni G, Naso M, Nichetti M, Spadaccini D, Gasparri C, Perna S. Polycystic ovary syndrome management: a review of the possible amazing role of berberine. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2020 Jan;301(1):53-60. doi: 10.1007/s00404-020-05450-4. Epub 2020 Feb 14. PMID: 32060683; PMCID: PMC7028834. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7028834/

4. PCOS Girl, Iodine: The Cause and The Cure for PCOS? April 18, 2016,

   http://www.pcosgirl.com/iodine-the-cause-and-the-cure-for-pcos/

5. Xiaoshuai Zhang, Yang Zheng, Yanan Guo, Zhiwen Lai, "The Effect of Low Carbohydrate Diet on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials", International Journal of Endocrinology, vol. 2019, Article ID 4386401, 14 pages, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/4386401 https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ije/2019/4386401/

Note - I changed this article, the original is in this document, towards the end, but will leave the comment that was not approved:

In case MedPageToday doesn't approve my comment, I'm copying it here:

“Women really need to prove that ADHD is causally linked to chronic alcohol use by the father of the baby. Research has linked the two in animal studies with greater intake and in a survey based study where women were asked about their spouse's alcohol habits. Weekly drinking was linked to ADHD in the children in that study. And then maybe punitive laws against women will disappear - rather than be made equivalent for men who drink and conceive a child within 73 days of chronic drinking (weekly may be too much alcohol for a healthy baby making sperm).”

Submitted for this article: Punitive Policies for Substance Use in Pregnancy Tied to Worse Obstetric Care. (medpagetoday.com/obgyn/pregnancy/100807)

This comment was approved, is on the site (after thinking about it, I realized I had never checked, and who knows if I missed an email, or the system changed):

I replied to a MedPage article about LongCovid - the comment has to be approved before it will show. I am curious if it will be. It may be too informative.

"Exercise leads to muscle fibers creating myokines which in excess would act like a cytokine storm and lead to the relapse of LongCovid or autoimmune type conditions. Moderate paced lifestyle becomes important for autoimmune type or latent infection conditions. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8740100/

Low magnesium is likely a factor that would increase anxiety or depression symptoms and risk of hyperinflammatory response to infections. The chimeric spike can interfere with ankyrin repeat domains of TRP channels which are needed to absorb magnesium in the GI tract. Epsom salt soaks for magnesium sulfate would be absorbed better or chelated supplements such as Mg glycinate or threonate, as TRPM 6 & 7 channels are needed for ionic magnesium uptake."

Comment was submitted for this article: The effect of exercise on cytokines: implications for musculoskeletal health: a narrative review. (medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/longcovid/100584)

The past is in the past, learn from it, become wiser instead of wounded, per: The Wisdom of Sadhguru; How To Move On, Let Go & Leave Your Past in The Past | Sadhguru (Powerful Speech) ← truly is. (Youtube)