CORRELATION BETWEEN ANTIOXIDANT VITAMINS AND REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES IN WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a complex endocrine disorder characterised by hormonal imbalance, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. This study assessed the correlation between antioxidant vitamins and reproductive hormones in women with PCOS by comparing biochemical parameters between clinically diagnosed PCOS subjects and non PCOS controls. Blood samples were analysed for vitamins A, C, and E using spectrophotometry, while luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, and C-reactive protein were quantified using ELISA methods. Oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione, were also evaluated. The results showed that PCOS participants had significantly higher LH, testosterone, LH/FSH ratio, and C-reactive protein levels, reflecting pronounced hormonal and inflammatory disturbances. Vitamin C and vitamin E concentrations were significantly lower in the PCOS group, indicating impaired antioxidant status, whereas vitamin A showed no significant difference between groups. Oxidative stress markers revealed elevated superoxide dismutase activity and reduced catalase activity among PCOS subjects, confirming heightened oxidative imbalance. These biochemical patterns suggest that diminished antioxidant capacity may contribute to the severity of hormonal dysregulation in PCOS. The findings support a mechanistic interaction between oxidative stress, inflammation, and reproductive hormone imbalance.