Effect of Vitamin E on Serum Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Angiopoietin-1 in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Angiogenesis disturbances are common in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). VitaminE has antiangiogenic properties. Data on the effects of vitamin E on angiogenesis in PCOS is limited, so the currentstudy was conducted to evaluate its effects on angiogenic indices in PCOS patients.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed on 43 womenaged 20-40 years, diagnosed with PCOS (Rotterdam criteria). It was performed at the referral clinic affiliated toTabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, from April 2017 to September 2017. Patients were randomlyassigned into two groups to receive either 400 IU/day vitamin E -as alpha tocopheryl acetate- (n=22) or placebo(n=21), for 8 weeks. Anthropometric, and angiogenic parameters including body weight, fat mass and fat freemass, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) were measured by standard methods at the beginning and at the end of study.Statistical Package for Social Science version 25 was used for statistical analysis and p significant.

After adjusting for potential confounders, we observed that vitamin E supplementation significantly reducedbody weight, fat mass, Ang-1, Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio and VEGF (p <0.01). We did not observe any considerable effect forvitamin E on Ang-2 level or bFGF.

Vitamin E supplementation for 8 weeks in the PCOS women had beneficial effects on body weight, Ang-1, Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio, and VEGF level (Registration number: IRCT201610193140N18).