The Effect of Exercise on Inflammatory Markers in PCOS Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a typical female disorder that influences different aspects of women's health. There is a direct association between inflammation and PCOS status. Some evidence supports the beneficial effects of exercise on inflammation status in PCOS women, while others cannot find a significant association. This study aimed to clarify the effect of exercise on inflammatory markers in women with PCOS. Method: Electronic searches in international databases were performed to identify eligible publications up to August 2021, which compared the effects of exercise on inflammatory markers in the intervention group compared to the control group in PCOS women. A weighted mean difference (WMD) using a random-effect model was applied for reporting results. Results: A total of 2525 records were found via database searching, of which 10 were eligible to be included in the analysis. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that exercise could significantly lower the serum level of CRP (WMD: -0.43 mg/L; 95% CI: -0.66 to -0.21; P ≤ 0.01; I 2: 84.9%; P < ≤0.01), while it was not considerable for adiponectin (WMD: -0.33 µg/mL; 95% CI: -0.97 to 0.31; P=0.30; I 2: 0%; P=0.97). In addition, subgroup analyses indicated a significant effect of exercise on CRP in individuals ≥30 years, sample size ≥15 individuals, and aerobic training. Conclusion: Exercise training can reduce CRP levels in women with CRP, particularly in women older than 30 years of age, and in studies with more than 15 participants. The effect of exercise on adiponectin was not noticeable.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine in pregnant women: A cross-sectional survey in the south of Iran.

OBJECTIVE: The use of traditional medicine and complementary alternative medicine (TM/CAM) derived from herbal remedies or natural supplements is increasing worldwide, but there are limited data on the use of TM/CAM during pregnancy. Iran has various ethnic populations, and the usage of TM/CAM by the different ethnic groups has not been researched. The aim of this study is to understand the use of TM/CAM modalities in pregnant women of different ethnic groups in southern Iran. METHODS: This study was conducted in primary health care centers in Khuzestan Province, Iran, from May to August, 2016. A semi-structured valid questionnaire was used to gather information in pregnant women (n = 170). RESULTS: About 46.5% of women in this study used TM/CAM during previous pregnancies. The majority (67%) of study participants were Arab. The Arab population showed increased use of TM/CAM during pregnancy (P = 0.014). Women with complications in former pregnancies had significantly higher incidence rate of TM/CAM use (65.8%) compared to the other group (39.6%) (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Understanding TM/CAM use and the associated factors in different ethnic groups of pregnant women will benefit the evaluation of the proper health policies and mother-infant health programs. This study contributes to the growing literature on TM/CAM, ethnic diversity and pregnant women.