Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40260281›Full record

Trial reportFrontiers in endocrinology2025

Flaxseed intervention and reproductive endocrine profiles in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: an open-labeled randomized controlled clinical trial.

Zahra Najdgholami, Fatemeh Maleki Sedgi, Samira Sadat Ghalishourani, Marzieh Feyzpour, Mehran Rahimlou

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Frontiers in endocrinology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Meta-analysis ofJournal of diabetes and metabolic disorders · 2025
    Review
  6. 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

5 authors.

Zahra NajdgholamiDepartment of Midwifery, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
Fatemeh Maleki SedgiDepartment of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
Samira Sadat GhalishouraniDepartment of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
Marzieh FeyzpourDepartment of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
Mehran RahimlouDepartment of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), affecting 6-15% 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. Methods: 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-Müllerian hormone (AMH), estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and androstenedione. Results: After 12 weeks, the flaxseed group showed a significant increase in FSH levels compared to the control group. FSH levels increased from 9.72 ± 11.95 µU/mL at baseline to 10.59 ± 12.14 µU/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. Conclusion: 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.

Indexed as

Dietary SupplementsFlaxPolycystic Ovary SyndromeAdultAnti-Mullerian HormoneDehydroepiandrosterone SulfateEstradiolFemaleFollicle Stimulating HormoneHumansLuteinizing HormoneYoung AdultAnti-Mullerian HormoneDehydroepiandrosterone SulfateEstradiolFollicle Stimulating HormoneLuteinizing Hormoneflaxseedfollicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)nutritionpolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)reproductive endocrine profile

Identifiers

PMID40260281
PMCPMC12010250

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Registered trials

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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.