{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T18:05:23Z","timestamp":1792087523354,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,7]],"date-time":"2025-04-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1743984000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Endocrinol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), affecting 6\u201315% of women of reproductive age, is characterized by hormonal imbalances and metabolic disturbances. Flaxseed, rich in omega-3 fatty acids and phytoestrogens, may offer a natural approach to improve reproductive hormone profiles in PCOS patients. This study is aimed at evaluating the effects of flaxseed supplementation on reproductive endocrine profiles in women with PCOS.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>In this open-labeled, randomized controlled trial, 70 women with PCOS were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=35), receiving 30 grams of milled flaxseed daily along with lifestyle modifications, or the control group (n=35), receiving only lifestyle modifications, for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Secondary outcomes included changes in serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), the LH\/FSH ratio, anti-M\u00fcllerian hormone (AMH), estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and androstenedione.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>After 12 weeks, the flaxseed group showed a significant increase in FSH levels compared to the control group. FSH levels increased from 9.72 \u00b1 11.95 \u00b5U\/mL at baseline to 10.59 \u00b1 12.14 \u00b5U\/mL after the intervention (p = 0.027). The mean treatment effect was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.086 to 1.75). The LH\/FSH ratio also significantly decreased in the flaxseed group (mean treatment effect: -0.341, 95% CI: -0.63 to -0.08, p = 0.031). No significant changes were observed in AMH, LH, estradiol, DHEAS, or androstenedione levels.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Flaxseed supplementation may benefit women with PCOS by increasing FSH levels and decreasing the LH\/FSH ratio, suggesting its potential as a complementary intervention for managing hormonal disturbances in PCOS. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2025.1531762","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,7]],"date-time":"2025-04-07T12:40:16Z","timestamp":1744029616000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":12,"title":["Flaxseed intervention and reproductive endocrine profiles in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: an open-labeled randomized controlled clinical trial"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Zahra","family":"Najdgholami","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fatemeh Maleki","family":"Sedgi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Samira 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