SynthesisBMC endocrine disorders2025
Dysregulated iron metabolism related to ferroptosis in polycystic ovary syndrome: a meta-analysis and a case-control study in pregnant women.
Synthesis in BMC endocrine disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Iron overload disorders in adults: a comprehensive review of gonadal function, reproductive, and sexual health.Human reproduction update · 2026Pooled it
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11 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundFerroptosis, a type of cell death driven by iron metabolism, has been implicated in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), although the evidence remains conflicting. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the relationship between PCOS and ferroptosis-related iron metabolism, with a particular focus on its contribution to ferroptosis.
methodsWe performed a systematic review and meta-analysis including clinical studies from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science up to November 2024 to analyse and compare the levels of serum ferritin, iron, hepcidin, and transferrin saturation levels between women with PCOS and the controls. Additionally, a case-control study on serum ferritin levels and placental expression of ferroptosis-related genes was conducted in 16 pregnant women with a prepregnancy diagnosis of PCOS and 21 controls, at Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China, in 2022.
resultsTwenty-two studies were included, and significant differences in serum ferritin levels were found between women with PCOS and controls (standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.86; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.40 to 1.32; P < 0.01). Moreover, serum iron (SMD: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.87; P = 0.03) and transferrin saturation (mean difference (MD): 4.85; 95% CI: 2.21 to 7.49; P < 0.01) levels were significantly greater in women with PCOS, whereas serum hepcidin levels were lower (SMD: -2.09; 95% CI: -3.30 to -0.87; P < 0.01). A case-control study revealed significantly elevated serum ferritin levels in the third trimester and notably upregulated expression of placental ferroptosis-related genes (ACSL4, TP53, GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH1) at full term in the PCOS group compared with the control group.
conclusionOur findings highlight the involvement of ferroptosis-related dysregulation of iron metabolism in the pathophysiology of PCOS and suggest that altered placental ferroptosis is potentially linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Clinical health care providers should be more careful about decision-making concerning iron supplements for women with PCOS, especially pregnant individuals. Further work is needed to explore the regulatory mechanisms underlying iron metabolism in women with PCOS. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
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