The effects of raw red onion consumption on serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, and hs-CRP in overweight obese females with polycystic ovarian syndrome : a randomized controlled-clinical trial

الملخص EN

Background: Chronic low-grade inflammation has been confirmed to be a major etiological factor in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

The anti-inflammatory effects of quercetin, a major flavonol in onion, have been suggested by experimental studies.

However, lack of data exists to investigate the effects of onion on inflammatory markers in PCOS.

Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the effects of raw red onion consumption on inflammatory markers in PCOS.

Methods: Fifty-four overweight/obese patients with PCOS were randomly assigned to either High-Onion (HO; raw red onions: 2 (40 - 50 g/day) for overweight and 2 (50 - 60 g/day) for obese patients) or Low-Onion (LO; raw red onions: 2 (10 - 15 g/day)) group over 8 weeks in this randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Serum adiponectin, leptin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and their correlations with metabolic and anthropometric parameters were assessed at baseline and endpoint.

Results: The 2-month treatment with onion could not significantly effect mean serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, or hs-CRP.

However, the percentage change of serum adiponectin was significantly different between the two groups after 8 weeks (-11.9% in LO vs.

48.32% in HO; P = 0.026).

Percentage change of serum leptin and hs-CRP showed no significant differences between the 2 groups.

Leptin had significant correlations with most anthropometric and metabolic variables of insulin resistance (P < 0.05).

Adiponectin concentration correlated significantly with fasting glucose (r = -0.35; P < 0.05), while log hs-CRP had significant correlations with most of the anthropometric markers (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: The 8-week intervention with red onion could increase percentage changes of serum adiponectin level in overweight/ obese females with PCOS.

However, no such effect was observed for serum leptin as well as hs-CRP levels.