Purpose
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of endocrine disorder and infertility among women
in which is related with low grade inflammation. Therefore, this current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
clinical trial assessed the effects of green cardamom supplementation on inflammatory markers and gene expression
among obese women with PCOS.
Methods
We included 194 obese PCOS women that gave all of them low calorie diet. These subjects were randomly
divided in two studied groups including intervention with 3 g/day green cardamom (n=99) and placebo groups (n=95).
Anthropometric indices, androgen hormones, and inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α), Interleukin
6 (IL-6), and C- reactive protein (CRP)) were assessed before and after four months intervention. Their TNF-α, IL-6,
and CRP genes expression level were measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
method.
Results
Anthropometric indices were improved in both two studied groups (P<0.001). Among androgen hormones
luteinizing hormone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone were significantly decreased (P<0.001), as well
as, follicle-stimulating hormone was significantly increased (P<0.001) in the green cardamom group. Our findings
showed that TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP serum were significantly decreased after the intervention with green cardamom
plus low calorie diet (P<0.001). In addition, the expression level of TNF-α and CRP genes were significantly decreased
in intervention groups (P<0.001).
Conclusions
This present study support the beneficial anti-inflammatory effect of green cardamom on the
inflammatory status in the PCOS women.
Level of evidence
Level I, randomized clinical trial
Trial registration
This trial was registered with the Iranian Clinical Trials Registry (registration number:
IRCT20200608047697N1). 1 August, 2020; https://www.irct.ir/trial/48748