Researchers have found that an antimalarial drug can reduce symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
- Researchers have found that the drug dihydroartemisinin, a type of artemisinin used to treat malaria, may reduce symptoms of PCOS.
- The research showed that the drug reduced blood levels of testosterone, which are usually high in patients with PCOS.
- The researchers also noted a decrease in cysts.
In France, one in ten women is affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm). This is a hormonal disease that can lead to fertility problems, hair growth and metabolic complications such as diabetes.
Antimalarial drug reduces PCOS symptoms
Currently, there is no treatment for PCOS. But encouraging results have just been obtained by a team of researchers on mice. Their work was published in the journal Science.
In their work, they gave the rodents the drug dihydroartemisinin (a type ofartemisinin used for treatment of malaria). Some mice had PCOS.
Results: The drug lowered testosterone levels and prevented cysts from developing in mice with PCOS. In other words, dihydroartemisinin reduced symptoms of the disease.
Women with PCOS have high levels of testosterone in their blood, due to the hormonal imbalance caused by the disease. Preventing these levels from increasing could help reduce or even cure the disease.
Lower testosterone levels in 12 women
In addition to their findings in animal models, the researchers wanted to confirm their results in humans. To do this, they administered artemisinin to 19 patients with PCOS, three times a day for three months.
So far, the results seem to corroborate those obtained on mice. Indeed, twelve of the nineteen patients had these improvements:
- More regular menstrual cycles.
- Lower blood levels of testosterone.
- A decrease in the development of cysts.
Encouraging results which nevertheless need to be confirmed by other studies before the antimalarial drug can be considered as a treatment for PCOS.
