New PCOS protocol on my FullScript account - you can be a client & purchase at 20% off, their whole catalog or things I highlight.

*Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - it seems to be genetically based and may include vitamin D and methylation variants.

Link to the FullScript site, PCOS Protocol, you may have to register as my client to see it. Some of the supplement recommendations are speciality mixes that wouldn’t be available at health food stores, but the ingredients can help direct shopping elsewhere.

Some of the text:

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Goals -

• Glucose stability, reduce insulin resistance. (1) Advanced Glucose Support - Clinical Synergy Professional Formulas.

• Support for female hormonal balance. (2) Functional Female (R) - Numedica.

• Omega 3 fatty acids. ~ 1000 mg combined EPA and DHA, from an oil or non GMO capsule. *I couldn't find a non GMO capsule except for pets and added a liquid lemon flavored fish oil to the shopping basket instead of a capsule. (9)

• Mitochondrial support and epigenetics: Methyl B complex. (3) MethylCare - Metagenics does not provide many or much of the other Bs but is a high dose of methyl folate and B12. (4) Pro-glyco-SP - Apex Energetics has more of the whole B complex in generous but not high dose amounts and includes endocrine support and some trace minerals.

• Methylation support for the liver - (5) Lipotropic Complex - Integrative Therapeutics.

• Kidney health. - (6) Kidney Care - Quicksilver Scientific

• Mitochondrial support and nerve cell myelin support: CoQ10. (10) CoQ10, 200 mg, NOW brand is in the cart.

• Vitamin D receptor agonist: curcumin (11) Curcumin and a proanthocyanidin mix (250 mg) with 150 mg DIM, is in the cart which would also be supportive of a healthy estrogen balance and might support or take the place of the (2) Functional Female mix.

• Iodine and selenium for thyroid and glandular support. (7) Iodoral (R) - Optimox is high dose and has scoring lines so the tablets could be broken in half if desired. Plenty of it helps the body clear fluoride and bromide, but would be contraindicated if hyperthyroidism is an issue. (8) Selenium is needed with iodine for use in an enzyme that breaks down excess thyroid hormone.

~~~~~~~~~~ The total price of the shopping basket is not cheap but does provide a couple months or more of some of the supplements. Starting with one or two at a time and checking tolerance can be another way to break up purchases. Support for a few months may help with recovery, continuing long-term might help maintain recovery. The question is up to your own budget. If there are underlying gene differences affecting methylation or other areas of health - the supplement may be a long-term need or health will deteriorate again as soon as the body runs out of the needed methyl donors being provided in either MethylCare and/or Pro-glyco-SP. Taking one and then the other in a rotating basis could be a solution for ongoing provision of the methyl folate and methyl or hydroxy cobalamin (B12). A Methyl B Complex might be a less expensive long-term solution.

Gentle full range movement exercise is also helpful, good sleep and light habits, and reducing inflammatory factors in diet and lifestyle along with increasing polyphenol rich vegetables, fruits, fruit peels, herbs and spices for Nrf2 promoting benefits. Epsom salt soaks or chelated magnesium supplements are also helpful for inflammatory conditions and detox.

Please seek your local health care services if any unusual symptoms occur or worsen. Stop taking a new supplement if something seems worse. It can be helpful to start one at a time for a few days, before adding another new supplement. Then as you run out of something new, pay attention and see if you worsen again. That supplement or ingredients within it may be helpful or necessary for maintaining improvements in health.

Shopping Tip: When shopping, consider whether buying the ingredients separately would get a better dose for the money, or if the custom blend does contain enough milligrams to make it worthwhile. I also always read the capsule ingredients and avoid commercial gelatin as it may contain glyphosate. I prefer vegetarian gel caps or cellulose. Some of these custom mixes are only available through a medical source such as FullScript or within a clinic.

Vitamin D Receptor gene variants are associated with PCOS which may promote lower than normal vitamin D levels and vitamin D is involved in glucose metabolism by increasing expression of insulin receptors and promoting insulin production in addition to being anti-inflammatory. Curcumin is also a Vitamin D Receptor agonist and found helpful for PCOS. Inositol, melatonin, alpha lipoic acid, and CoQ10 (200 mg) may also all be helpful (Kiani, et al., 2022) and are all mitochondrial support.

“The endorsement of vitamin D supplementation in women with PCOS is based on the role of vitamin D in glucose metabolism: it enhances insulin synthesis and release, increased expression of insulin receptors and suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin D may play a significant role in the development and onset of most clinical features of PCOS [19, 20].” (Kiani, et al., 2022)

*‘Advanced Glucose Support’ looks like it would help stimulate metabolic rate, support liver health (Milk Thistle), and mitochondria (Alpha lipoic acid) and berberine may help insulin resistance similarly to Metformin except without the side effect risks. With zinc, be aware that a little here and there may add up to more than necessary if there is some in a one-a-day and in several mixed supplements. We do need zinc, but not too much zinc. Younger adults need about 20-25 mg/day and older/senior adults may benefit from 50 mg/day.

*DIM may help promote beneficial forms of estrogen. The herbs include adaptogens, good for overall health. Again, if glycine is desired DMG may be a useful source to and for either, it is an amino acid. I take a teaspoon or a half, which is about 2.5 to 5 grams, not 10 mg.

(4) Pro-glyco SP has a one-a-day mix of nutrients with methyl folate and B12. The amounts are closer to the RDA than to a high dose supplement. It includes endocrine support and the amino acid betaine which provide glycine needed for glutathione. The amount in this supplement would not be much glycine and DMG may also be helpful if glycine is a desired supplement but would not provide the methyl group that betaine, TMG provides.

*The dandelion extract in (6) Kidney Care has diuretic qualities, drink plenty of water when using a detox support supplement, and take it early in the day rather than before bed. Use of a detox product may be for a few weeks, and then off for a few weeks off, repeat as needed or if puffy edema is a problem.

Dandelions, all parts of the plant are medicinally beneficial. Photo by Viridi Green on Unsplash

Disclaimer: This information is being provided for educational guidance within the guidelines of Fair Use but is not intended to provide an individualized care plan. Please contact me with questions or seek an individual functional health practitioner.

References include:

1. (Peres, et al., 2017) Peres, et al., 2017, An Update- The Role of Nutrients Crucial in the Infertility of Couples- New Insights for the Effects of Iodine, Selenium, Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Magnesium, https://symbiosisonlinepublishing.com/nutritionalhealth-foodscience/nutritionalhealth-foodscience116.php

2. (Lin, et al., 2019) Lin MJ, Chen HW, Liu PH, Cheng WJ, Kuo SL, Kao MC. The prescription patterns of traditional Chinese medicine for women with polycystic ovary syndrome in Taiwan: A nationwide population-based study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Jun;98(24):e15890. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000015890. PMID: 31192922; PMCID: PMC6587642. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6587642/ 

3. (Kiana, et al., 2022) Kiani AK, Donato K, Dhuli K, Stuppia L, Bertelli M. Dietary supplements for polycystic ovary syndrome. J Prev Med Hyg. 2022 Oct 17;63(2 Suppl 3):E206-E213. doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2022.63.2S3.2762. PMID: 36479481; PMCID: PMC9710389. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9710389/ *Includes: 

   1. Curcumin, 

   2. Vitamin D, (*less than 4000 IU dosing/day is mentioned unless short term),

   3. Inositol, (alone or in combination with melatonin or alpha lipoic acid helped PCOS), and 

   4. CoQ10 (200 mg day/ 8 weeks in a study found benefits for PCOS) *this is one I take long-term along with all the B's.