Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age, associated with increased risks of metabolic disorders, depression and reduced quality of life. This study examined the impact of the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet on mental health, PCOS-related quality of life (PCOSQ), anthropometric indices, hirsutism, and metabolic/hormonal parameters in women with PCOS. Total of 52 women with PCOS, aged between 18 and 45 years, were randomly assigned to either the low calorie MIND diet group or the control group. Anthropometric data, depression and anxiety scores, serum levels of gonadotropins (luteinizing hormone [LH], follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH]), PCOSQ, and Ferriman-Gallwey score were evaluated before and after the intervention. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at the end of the 8-week follow-up period. After 8 weeks, the MIND diet significantly reduced depression (β –3·03; 95 % CI: [–5·36, –0·70]; P = 0·011) and anxiety (β –3·54; 95 % CI: [–6·60, –0·49]; P = 0·024) scores compared with the control group. The MIND diet group exhibited significant increases in the emotion (β 0·63; 95 % CI: [0·18, 1·08]; P = 0·007) and body hair (β 0·65; 95 % CI: [0·03, 1·28]; P = 0·04) domains of the PCOSQ compared to the control group. The changes in other parameters did not show significant differences between the two groups. Both the MIND diet and control groups showed improvements in weight and BMI, with a slight advantage for the MIND diet group. These findings suggest that the MIND diet may be beneficial for improving mental health and some aspects of PCOSQ in women with PCOS.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine diseases characterised by unusual levels of sex hormones and dysfunction of the ovaries. The infertility rate is high among patients with PCOS. Unusual hormonal status can lead to the inability of ovaries to release functional and mature follicles. Clinical trials on the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplementation on ovulation and sex hormones profile in women with PCOS have been controversial. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the potential effects of NAC supplementation on ovulation and sex hormones profile. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Central library international databases were searched till September 2021. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects approach in case of significant between-study heterogeneity. Eighteen studies, including 2185 participants, were included in the present meta-analysis. NAC significantly reduced total testosterone (TT) levels (standardised mean difference (SMD): −0·25 ng/ml; 95 % CI (−0·39, −0·10); ‘P < 0·001’, I 2 = 53·9 %, P = 0·034) and increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels (SMD: 0·39 mg/ml; 95 % CI (0·07, 0·71); P = 0·01, I 2 = 70·9 %, P = 0·002). Oestrogen levels also increased after correcting publication bias. However, no significant effect was observed on the number of follicles, endometrial thickness, progesterone, serum luteinising hormone levels and sex hormone-binding globulin. The results indicated that NAC supplementation decreased TT levels and increased FSH levels. Overall, NAC supplementation might be effective in the improvement of reproductive system function in patients with PCOS.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium (PQQ·Na2) supplementation on the reproductive performance and intestinal barrier functions of gestating and lactating female Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats and their offspring. Dietary supplementation with PQQ·Na2 increased the number of implanted embryos per litter during gestation and lactation at GD 20 and increased the number of viable fetuses per litter, and the weight of uterine horns with fetuses increased at 1 d of newborn. The mRNA expression levels of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx2), superoxide dismutase (SOD1), solute carrier family 2 member 1 (Slc2a1) and solute carrier family 2 member 3 (Slc2a3) in the placenta were increased with dietary PQQ·Na2 supplementation. Dietary supplementation with PQQ·Na2 in gestating and lactating rats increased the CAT, SOD and GPx activities of the jejunal mucosa of weaned rats on PD 21. Dietary supplementation with PQQ·Na2 in female rats affected the expression of tight junction proteins (claudin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin) in the jejunal mucosa of their offspring by increasing the expression of ZO-1 mRNA in the expression of ZO-1 and claudin mRNA in the jejunal mucosa of weaned rats on PD 21. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with PQQ·Na2 in gestating and lactating female rats had positive effects on their reproductive performance and on the intestinal barrier of weaned rats.

The aim of this study was to assess the associations of intake of different types of meat with semen parameters and reproductive hormones in healthy young men. This cross-sectional study included 206 men, 18–23 years, from Southern Spain. All men completed a validated FFQ, underwent a physical examination, and provided blood and semen samples. Multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate the associations between meat intake with semen quality parameters and reproductive hormones. Total meat intake was unrelated to semen quality or reproductive hormone levels. When subgroups of meat were separately considered, however, shellfish intake was positively related to progressive motility. The adjusted percentages of progressively motile spermatozoa for men in increasing quartiles of shellfish intake were 45·2, 42·0, 49·4 and 53·2 % with a significant linear trend across quartiles (Ptrend≤0·001). In contrast, men who consumed organ meats had significantly lower progressive sperm motility (51·5 v. 42·8 %; P = 0·001) and higher luteinising hormone levels (4·0 v. 4·6 IU/l; P = 0·03) compared with men who did not consume organ meats. Intake of shellfish and organ meats was low in this population, however. Given the scarcity of data on the relation between specific types of meat with semen quality and reproductive hormone levels, additional research is needed to confirm or refute these findings.

Although minerals are linked to several reproductive outcomes, it is unknown whether dietary minerals are associated with ovulatory function. We hypothesised that low intakes of minerals would be associated with an increased risk of anovulation. We investigated associations between dietary mineral intake and both reproductive hormones and anovulation in healthy women in the BioCycle Study, which prospectively followed up 259 regularly menstruating women aged 18–44 years who were not taking mineral supplements for two menstrual cycles. Intakes of ten selected minerals were assessed through 24-h dietary recalls at up to four times per cycle in each participant. Oestradiol, progesterone, luteinising hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), sex-hormone-binding globulin and testosterone were measured in serum up to eight times per cycle. We used weighted linear mixed models to evaluate associations between minerals and hormones and generalised linear models for risk of anovulation. Compared with Na intake ≥1500 mg, Na intake <1500 mg was associated with higher levels of FSH (21·3 %; 95 % CI 7·5, 36·9) and LH (36·8 %; 95 % CI 16·5, 60·5) and lower levels of progesterone (−36·9 %; 95 % CI −56·5, −8·5). Na intake <1500 mg (risk ratio (RR) 2·70; 95 % CI 1·00, 7·31) and Mn intake <1·8 mg (RR 2·00; 95 % CI 1·02, 3·94) were associated with an increased risk of anovulation, compared with higher intakes, respectively. Other measured dietary minerals were not associated with ovulatory function. As essential minerals are mostly obtained via diet, our results comparing insufficient levels with sufficient levels highlight the need for future research on dietary nutrients and their associations with ovulatory cycles.

Stimuli from a prospective mate increase the secretion of luteinising hormone (LH) in sheep. This ‘male effect’ in ewes and ‘female effect’ effect in rams is predominantly mediated by olfactory signals, though it is thought that non-olfactory signals play synergistic or substitutive roles. In this study, we tested whether exposure to visual or audio–visual stimuli from a prospective mate would stimulate an increase in LH secretion in ewes (Experiment 1) and rams (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, groups of eight Merino ewes were exposed to one of three stimuli midway through a frequent blood-sampling regimen: full ram contact, still images of rams, a video of ewes and rams mating. Control ewes (n = 8) were completely isolated from rams. Exposure to still images of rams appeared to stimulate an increase in mean LH concentrations (P < 0.05) and tended to increase LH pulse frequency (P < 0.1), but the response was significantly smaller than that observed in ewes exposed to rams (P < 0.01). Audio–visual stimuli had no effect on any parameters of LH secretion (P > 0.1). In Experiment 2, Merino rams were allocated to either an Exposure (n = 7) or a Control (n = 7) group. Exposure rams underwent two exposure periods midway through a frequent blood-sampling regimen; exposure to still images of ewes and audio recorded during mating of ewes and rams (audio–visual exposure); exposure to oestrous ewes (ewe exposure). Control rams were sampled at the same frequency but remained isolated from ewe stimuli. Exposure of rams to the audio–visual stimuli did not affect any parameters of LH secretion (P > 0.1). In contrast, exposure to oestrous ewes increased LH pulse frequency (P < 0.05) and advanced the onset of the next LH pulse (P < 0.05). In conclusion, visual signals appear to be involved in eliciting the neuroendocrine response of ewes to rams and are of greater importance to this phenomenon in ewes (male effect) than rams (female effect). However, overall the visual and audio–visual signals used in this study were far less effective than stimulus animals, suggesting that these stimuli are less important than olfactory signals, or a combination of olfactory and audio–visual signals.