Lipid Metabolism and Relevant Disorders to Female Reproduction Health

Background: Lipids are essential components of cells that participate in metabolic and endocrine regulation and reproductive functions. The main organs where lipid regulation takes place are the liver and adipose tissue. Besides, when each tis-sue-specific action cannot be exerted, it could lead to several endocrine-metabolic disor-ders closely related to PCOS, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obe-sity. Objective: This work aims to discuss the impact of lipid alterations on metabolic and re-productive health. Therefore, this review focus on the importance of carrying out an inte-grated study of the molecular pathways affected in PCOS for developing target therapies. Results: Lipids play a major role in PCOS pathogenesis. In this regard, failures in lipid regulation, synthesis, and/or homeostasis contribute to metabolic and reproductive abnor-malities, such as those seen in PCOS. Several lipid pathways and regulators are altered in this pathology, leading to dysfunctions that worsen reproductive functions. Therefore, there are several treatments to manage dyslipidemias. Non-pharmacological therapies are considered a first-line treatment being the pharmacological treatments a second-line op-tion. Conclusion: The best treatment to improve the lipid profile is lifestyle intervention, a combination of hypocaloric diet and exercise. Regarding pharmacological therapies, a combination of fibrate and statins would be the most recommended drugs. Still, in PCOS women, treatment with metformin or TZDs not only modulates the lipid metabolism, but also improves ovulation. In addition, metformin with lifestyle interventions has positive effects on the metabolic and reproductive features of PCOS patients.

Automated summary

Lipids play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of PCOS, with failures in lipid regulation contributing to metabolic and reproductive abnormalities. Non-pharmacological therapies are preferred for managing dyslipidemias, with pharmacological treatments as a secondary option.