[Serum zinc level in infertile women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome: a comparative study]

ABSTRACT

We are in new era of knowledge and treatment of women with PCOS. We should find management modalities that can improve their life quality. Due to high prevalence of PCOS, and zinc deficiency in Iran, importance of antioxidants such as zinc on treatment and improvement of PCOS complications, and due to the disadvantages of the current treatment for the disease [i.e. OCPs], finding an efficient alternative therapy with no or less side effects seems to be as important as some methods for changing the life style of these women. This study was performed to assess zinc levels in PCOS versus non PCOS patients to determine if zinc can be helpful in PCOS management. This is a case-control study which was performed from January 2012-2013 in 100 infertile women aged 20-45 years who were referred to Vali-e-Asr infertility clinic. Fifty patients had PCOS according to Rotterdam Criteria [case group] and 50 were infertile women without PCOS [control group]. In both group, serum Zinc levels were determined and the data was gathered using the SPSS software and analyzed by descriptive [percent, mean, standard deviation] and analytical x[2], ANOVA, Mann-Whitney and Correlation]. Results did not show a significant difference between case group and control group in respect to serum Zinc levels [P>0.05]. Due to no difference between case group and the control one in zinc levels, it seems that zinc supplementation in PCOS patients is not necessarily useful or of clinical importance. Obviously studies with larger sample size can probably define the role of zinc in these patients.