The effects of vitamin D and evening primrose oil co-supplementation on lipid profiles and biomarkers of oxidative stress in vitamin D-deficient women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Khadijeh Nasri
Masoud Behfar
Mohsen Taghizadeh
Mohammad Reza Memarzadeh
Zatollah Asemi
Sedighe Akrami
Maryam Rahimi
Abbas Kheiry
Mohammad Reza Mazandaranian
Journal: Endocrine Research (2018)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: Lipid profiles; oxidative stress; polycystic ovary syndrome; supplementation.
Affiliations: Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, I.R. Iran, Barij Medicinal Plants Research Center, Kashan, I.R. Iran

Abstract:  Purpose of the study: There was inconsistent evidence about the benefit of vitamin D plus evening primrose oil (EPO) supplement intake on lipid profiles and reduced oxidative stress among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The current study was performed to evaluate the effects of vitamin D plus EPO supplementation on lipid profiles and biomarkers of oxidative stress in vitamin D-deficient women with PCOS. Materials and methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed among 60 vitamin D-deficient women with PCOS. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups to receive either 1000 IU vitamin D3 plus 1000 mg EPO (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Metabolic profiles were quantified at baseline and after the 12-week intervention. Results: Compared with the placebo group, women in vitamin D and EPO co-supplementation group had significant increases in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) (+10.7 ¬± 8.4 vs. -0.5 ¬± 1.6 ng/mL, p &lt; 0.001) and plasma total glutathione (GSH) (+62.7 ¬± 58.0 vs. -0.7 ¬± 122.7 ¬µmol/L, p = 0.01), while there were significant decreases in triglycerides (-7.3 ¬± 23.8 vs. +6.9 ¬± 26.3 mg/dL, p = 0.03), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol levels (-1.5 ¬± 4.7 vs. +1.4 ¬± 5.3 mg/dL, p = 0.03), total/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (-0.3 ¬± 0.4 vs. -0.02 ¬± 0.4, p = 0.02), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration (-0.4 ¬± 0.4 vs. +0.5 ¬± 1.8 ¬µmol/L, p = 0.008). Conclusion: Overall, vitamin D and EPO co-supplementation for 12 weeks among vitamin D-deficient women with PCOS significantly improved triglycerides, VLDL cholesterol, GSH, and MDA levels. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 There are many concerns about the integrity of 172 publications by this research group, including this one. Some of the concerns are published 1. Anaesthesia 2020;75:1683u201392, see Supplementary data. This paper is A153 2. Account Res 2020;28:149-61. 3. J Clin Epidemiol 2021;131:22-29. Journals and publishers were notified of these concerns in July 2019. 18 publications have an expression of concern, and 6 have been retracted. To our knowledge there has been no public response about any of the concerns. We think these publications are unreliable ,