Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39935052›Full record

ArticleObstetrics & gynecology science2025

The impact of GABA and GABAergic pathway in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review.

Farzaneh Motafeghi, Mina Amiri, Mahsa Noroozzadeh, Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Obstetrics & gynecology science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Farzaneh MotafeghiReproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mina AmiriReproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mahsa NoroozzadehReproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Fahimeh Ramezani TehraniReproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Funding

Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences IR.SBMU.ENDOCRINE.REC.1402.028
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Emerging evidence indicates that dysfunction of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic pathway may contribute to the pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and GABA demonstrates potential in the management of PCOS symptoms. This systematic review aimed to determine the role of the GABAergic pathway in PCOS and evaluate the impact of GABA on improving the condition. Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and PubMed databases were systematically searched for experimental studies, clinical trials, animal studies, and cellular investigations. The search was conducted for relevant English-language manuscripts, published up to February 2024, using keywords, such as "polycystic ovary syndrome", PCOS, "gamma-aminobutyric acid" and GABA. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The results indicate that GABAergic dysfunction adversely affects gonadotrophin-releasing hormone neuronal activity, leading to hormonal imbalances and reproductive issues. Prenatal androgen exposure and kisspeptin signaling influence GABAergic transmission to GnRH neurons, thereby linking GABA to the pathogenesis of PCOS. Additionally, GABAergic signaling affects peripheral tissues relevant to PCOS, including the immune system, gut-brain axis, and ovaries. GABA supplementation has demonstrated potential benefits in enhancing metabolic and reproductive health, such as reducing insulin resistance and modulating sex hormone levels, as supported by animal models and clinical studies involving females with PCOS. The GABAergic signaling pathway may represent a promising therapeutic target for the management of PCOS. Nevertheless, further studies are required to validate these findings and deepen our understanding of the role of GABA in the pathogenesis and treatment of PCOS.

Indexed as

Gamma-aminobutyric acidGonadotropin-releasing hormonePolycystic ovary syndrome

Identifiers

PMID39935052
PMCPMC11976924

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.