{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,8]],"date-time":"2026-06-08T11:26:47Z","timestamp":1780918007044,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,6]],"date-time":"2026-03-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1772755200000},"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. Nutr."],"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    Edible bird\u2019s nest (EBN) is a traditional functional food consumed for its purported reproductive health benefits. However, robust preclinical evidence supporting its efficacy in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)\u2014a prevalent endocrine disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism and gonadotropin dysregulation\u2014is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a commercially available fresh EBN product on reproductive endocrine, metabolic, and ovarian parameters in a letrozole-induced PCOS rat model. Female Sprague\u2013Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups (\n                    <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                    =\u202f8\/group): blank control, PCOS model control, normal control, low-dose EBN (5\u202fmg\/kg\/day), medium-dose EBN (10\u202fmg\/kg\/day) high-dose EBN (20\u202fmg\/kg\/day). PCOS was induced by subcutaneous letrozole (1\u202fmg\/kg\/day) combined with a high-fat\/high-sucrose diet for 21\u202fdays, followed by 28\u202fdays of oral intervention. Estrous cyclicity, serum sex hormones (LH, FSH, testosterone, estradiol), glucose tolerance (OGTT), systemic inflammation, and ovarian histopathology were assessed. EBN treatment significantly ameliorated hyperandrogenism and gonadotropin imbalance in PCOS rats: it reduced elevated serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone levels, lowered the LH\/FSH ratio, and increased suppressed follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (all\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    &amp;lt;\u202f0.05 vs. model control). However, these endocrine improvements were not accompanied by restoration of regular estrous cyclicity, reversal of polycystic ovarian morphology, or improvement in glucose intolerance. No significant changes in systemic inflammatory markers were observed. Oral administration of fresh edible bird\u2019s nest effectively corrects key reproductive hormonal disturbances in a rat model of PCOS. While these findings support a potential role for EBN as a dietary modulator of the hypothalamic\u2013pituitary-ovarian axis, its inability to restore ovulatory function or metabolic parameters underscores the complexity of PCOS pathophysiology and the need for multifaceted therapeutic approaches.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2026.1779908","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,6]],"date-time":"2026-03-06T05:29:49Z","timestamp":1772774989000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Edible bird\u2019s nest ameliorates hyperandrogenism and gonadotropin imbalance in a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Yang","family":"Jiao","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Shandong Institute for Food and Drug Control","place":["Jinan, China"]},{"name":"Institute of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine","place":["Jinan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Man","family":"Yuan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hebei Edible Bird\u2019s Nest Fresh Stew Technology Innovation Center","place":["Langfang, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Liqin","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hebei Edible Bird\u2019s Nest Fresh Stew Technology Innovation Center","place":["Langfang, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shuang","family":"Qiu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hebei Edible Bird\u2019s Nest Fresh Stew Technology Innovation Center","place":["Langfang, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Juan","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine","place":["Jinan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dongliang","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hebei Edible Bird\u2019s Nest Fresh Stew Technology Innovation Center","place":["Langfang, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"321","DOI":"10.1097\/AOG.0000000000002698","article-title":"Polycystic ovary syndrome","volume":"132","author":"Azziz","year":"2018","journal-title":"Obstet Gynecol"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0038-1668085","article-title":"A summary on polycystic ovary syndrome: diagnostic criteria, prevalence, clinical manifestations, and management according to the latest international guidelines","volume":"36","author":"Neven","year":"2018","journal-title":"Semin Reprod Med"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"214","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejogrb.2016.08.026","article-title":"Obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease risk: an uptodate in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome","volume":"207","author":"Orio","year":"2016","journal-title":"Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"74","DOI":"10.21037\/apm-20-1893","article-title":"The prevalence of polycystic ovarian syndrome in Chinese women: a meta-analysis","volume":"10","author":"Wu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ann Palliat Med"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"643","DOI":"10.1007\/s11655-013-1563-y","article-title":"Edible bird\u2019s nest: food or medicine?","volume":"19","author":"Wong","year":"2013","journal-title":"Chin J Integr Med"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1745","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17101745","article-title":"Structural characterization and efficacy in alleviating lung inflammation of sialylated glycopeptides from edible bird\u2019s nest","volume":"17","author":"Li","year":"2025","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"140","DOI":"10.1016\/j.antiviral.2006.02.005","article-title":"Edible bird\u2019s nest extract inhibits influenza virus infection","volume":"70","author":"Guo","year":"2006","journal-title":"Antivir Res"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"531","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17030531","article-title":"Interventional effects of edible bird\u2019s Nest and Free sialic acids on LPS-induced brain inflammation in mice","volume":"17","author":"Qian","year":"2025","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8609","DOI":"10.1080\/10408398.2023.2202254","article-title":"Dietary sialic acids: distribution, structure, and functions","volume":"64","author":"Zhang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"590","DOI":"10.1271\/bbb.100705","article-title":"Improvement of bone strength and dermal thickness due to dietary edible bird's nest extract in ovariectomized rats","volume":"75","author":"Matsukawa","year":"2011","journal-title":"Biosci Biotechnol Biochem"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"559","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodres.2012.06.001","article-title":"Sketch of the edible bird's nest and its important bioactivities","volume":"48","author":"Ma","year":"2012","journal-title":"Food Res Int"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"94","DOI":"10.1186\/1472-6882-11-94","article-title":"Effects of edible bird's nest (EBN) on cultured rabbit corneal keratocytes","volume":"11","author":"Zainal Abidin","year":"2011","journal-title":"BMC Complement Altern Med"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"609","DOI":"10.3390\/antiox12030609","article-title":"Enzyme-digested edible bird's nest (EBND) prevents UV and arid environment-induced cellular oxidative stress, cell death and DNA damage in human skin keratinocytes and three-dimensional epithelium equivalents","volume":"12","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Antioxidants"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"797520","DOI":"10.1155\/2012\/797520","article-title":"Mechanisms of edible bird's nest extract-induced proliferation of human adipose-derived stem cells","volume":"2012","author":"Roh","year":"2012","journal-title":"Evid Based Complement Alternat Med"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2046","DOI":"10.1039\/c6fo01615d","article-title":"Identification of two novel antioxidant peptides from edible bird's nest (Aerodramus fuciphagus) protein hydrolysates","volume":"8","author":"Ghassem","year":"2017","journal-title":"Food Funct"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5063","DOI":"10.62347\/JPGE5268","article-title":"Edible bird's nest improves hemorheology and immune function in mice with transplanted uterine leiomyomas","volume":"16","author":"Zhang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Am J Transl Res"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1186\/1472-6882-14-391","article-title":"Edible bird's nest ameliorates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells","volume":"14","author":"Yew","year":"2014","journal-title":"BMC Complement Altern Med"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1016\/0305-0491(87)90133-7","article-title":"Evidence that epidermal growth factor is present in swiftlet's (Collocalia) nest","volume":"87","author":"Kong","year":"1987","journal-title":"Comp Biochem Physiol B"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7205082","DOI":"10.1155\/2017\/7205082","article-title":"Edible bird's Nest prevents menopause-related memory and cognitive decline in rats via increased hippocampal Sirtuin-1 expression","volume":"2017","author":"Hou","year":"2017","journal-title":"Oxidative Med Cell Longev"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7577","DOI":"10.1039\/d4fo00563e","article-title":"Edible bird\\u0027s nest regulates glucose and lipid metabolic disorders via the gut-liver axis in obese mice","volume":"15","author":"Zhang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Food Funct."},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4619","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms26104619","article-title":"The Potential of Edible Bird\\u0027s Nests in Reducing Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Narrative Review","volume":"26","author":"Rusanuar","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci."},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"106840","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsbmb.2025.106840","article-title":"Inducing agents and PCOS - A comprehensive analysis","volume":"254","author":"Muthukumaran","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4703","DOI":"10.1007\/s10787-025-01809-8","article-title":"Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of Carvacrol against polycystic ovary syndrome associated complications using high fat diet and Letrozole challenged rat model: a multidisciplinary study cascading in vivo, in vitro, in silico and network pharmacology approaches","volume":"33","author":"Siddiqua","year":"2025","journal-title":"Inflammopharmacology."},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"145","DOI":"10.1007\/s11011-025-01573-2","article-title":"Probiotics ameliorates hypothalamic amenorrhea in a rat model of PCOS","volume":"40","author":"Areloegbe","year":"2025","journal-title":"Metab Brain Dis."},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.1186\/s13048-024-01563-5","article-title":"Study on the effects of Mogroside V in inhibiting NLRP3-mediated granulosa cell pyroptosis and insulin resistance to improve PCOS","volume":"18","author":"Yang","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Ovarian Res."},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"119753","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lfs.2021.119753","article-title":"Recent updates on animal models for understanding the etiopathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome","volume":"280","author":"Corrie","year":"2021","journal-title":"Life Sci."},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"659","DOI":"10.1096\/fj.07-9574LSF","article-title":"Dose translation from animal to human studies revisited","volume":"22","author":"Reagan-Shaw","year":"2008","journal-title":"FASEB J."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Nutrition"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fnut.2026.1779908\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,6]],"date-time":"2026-03-06T05:29:50Z","timestamp":1772774990000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fnut.2026.1779908\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,6]]},"references-count":27,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fnut.2026.1779908"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fnut.2026.1779908","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-861X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-861X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,6]]},"article-number":"1779908"}}