The third Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Athens, Sotiria General Hospital, Mesogion Avenue 152, Athens 11527, Greece.
Curr Pharm Des. 2012;18(3):270-82. doi: 10.2174/138161212799040457.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex syndrome of unclear etiopathogenesis characterized by heterogeneity in phenotypic manifestations. The clinical phenotype of PCOS includes reproductive and hormonal aberrations, namely anovulation and hyperandrogenism, which coexist with metabolic disturbances. Reflecting the crosstalk between the reproductive system and metabolic tissues, obesity not only deteriorates the metabolic profile but also aggravates ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism. Although the pathogenesis of PCOS remains unclear, the syndrome appears to involve environmental and genetic components. Starting from early life and extending throughout lifecycle, environmental insults may affect susceptible women who finally demonstrate the clinical phenotype of PCOS. Diet emerges as the major environmental determinant of PCOS. Overnutrition leading to obesity is widely recognized to have an aggravating impact, while another detrimental dietary factor may be the high content of food in advanced glycated end products (AGEs). Environmental exposure to industrial products, particularly Bisphenol A (BPA), may also exacerbate the clinical course of PCOS. AGEs and BPA may act as endocrine disruptors in the pathogenesis of the syndrome. PCOS appears to mirror the harmful influence of the modern environment on the reproductive and metabolic balance of inherently predisposed individuals.
多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）是一种病因不明的复杂综合征，其表型表现具有异质性。PCOS 的临床表型包括生殖和激素异常，即排卵障碍和高雄激素血症，同时伴有代谢紊乱。肥胖不仅恶化了代谢特征，还加重了排卵功能障碍和高雄激素血症，反映了生殖系统和代谢组织之间的相互作用。虽然 PCOS 的发病机制尚不清楚，但该综合征似乎涉及环境和遗传因素。从生命早期开始并贯穿整个生命周期，环境因素可能会影响易患该病的女性，最终使她们表现出 PCOS 的临床表型。饮食是 PCOS 的主要环境决定因素。人们普遍认识到，营养过剩导致的肥胖会产生加重作用，而另一个有害的饮食因素可能是含有大量晚期糖基化终产物（AGEs）的食物。环境中接触工业产品，特别是双酚 A（BPA），也可能使 PCOS 的临床病程恶化。AGEs 和 BPA 可能在该综合征的发病机制中充当内分泌干扰物。PCOS 反映了现代环境对固有易患人群生殖和代谢平衡的有害影响。
