Polycystic Ovary disease
Polycystic ovary disease is characterized by enlarged ovaries with multiple small cysts, an abnormally high number of follicles at various states of maturation, and a thick, scarred capsule surrounding each ovary. The syndrome was originally reported by Stein and Leventhal (1935) when they described a group of women with amenorrhea (absence of menstrual period), infertility, hirsutism (unwanted hair growth in women), and enlarged polycystic ovaries.
Causes, Incidence and Risk factors
Polycystic ovary disease is an endocrine disorder, which means normal hormone cycles are interrupted. Hormones direct many functions throughout the body. For example, hormones regulate reproductive functions, including normal development of eggs in the ovaries. It is not completely understood why or how hormone cycles are interrupted, although there are several working theories.
In polycystic ovary disease, under-developed follicles accumulate in the ovaries. Follicles are sacs within ovaries that contain eggs. The eggs in these follicles do not mature and therefore, cannot be released from the ovaries. Instead, they accumulate as cysts in the ovary. This contributes to infertility. The lack of follicle maturation and the inability to ovulate are likely caused by low levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and higher-than-normal levels of androgens (male hormones), produced in the ovary.
Insulin resistance also seems to be a key feature in polycystic ovarian syndrome. In addition to other hormones, insulin helps regulate ovarian function. When someone is insulin resistant, this means that cells throughout the body do not readily respond to the insulin circulating in the blood. For this reason, the amount of insulin remains high in the blood (hyperinsulinemia). High levels of insulin contribute to lack of ovulation, high androgen levels, infertility and early pregnancy loss.
Polycystic ovaries are two to five times larger than normal ovaries, and they have a white, thick and tough outer covering. Women are usually diagnosed when in their 20s or 30s. Many women with polycystic ovary disease have irregular periods and may have very little menstruation (oligomenorrhea) or no period at all (amenorrhea). Women diagnosed with this disorder frequently have a mother or sister with similar symptoms commonly associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Conception is often possible with proper surgical or medical treatments. Following conception, pregnancy is usually uneventful.
If you have polycystic ovary disease, you are likely to experience some of the following symptoms :
- Abnormal, irregular or scanty (very light or infrequent) menstrual periods
- Absent periods , usually (but not always) after having one or more normal menstrual periods during puberty (secondary amenorrhea)
- Weight gain, even obesity
- Insulin resistance and diabetes
- Infertility
- Increased hair growth; distribution of body hair may be in a male pattern
- Virilization development of male sex characteristics in a female. This may include an increase in body hair, facial hair, a deepening of the voice, male-pattern baldness and clitoral enlargement.
- Decreased breast size
- Aggravation of acne
Role of Noni
Noni contains all the vitamins like vitamin A , vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E. It contains all the trace minerals. A number of major components are identified in the Noni plant like scopoletin, octoanoic acid, potassium, vitamin C, terpenoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones (such as nordamnacanthal, morindone, rubiadin, and rubiadin-1-methyl ether, anthraquinone glycoside), sitosterol, carotene, vitamin A, flavone glycosides, linoleic acid, Alizarin, amino acids, acubin, L-asperuloside, caproic acid, caprylic acid, ursolic acid, rutin, and a putative proxeronine.
Noni in endocrine disturbances
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) produce a wide variety of endocrine-disruption effects, including developmental disorders, carcinogenicity and mutagenicity. One recent study demonstrated that about 94% of the 48 EDCs generated free radicals and that this free radical generation induced by EDCs might represent a common toxic mechanism of action of EDCs. In this context, it is proposed that EDCs may produce endocrine-disrupting effects including carcinogenicity via the generation of free radicals, and thus the effects may be modulated or prevented by scavenging free radicals with antioxidants, such as vitamins, curcumin, isoflavonoids, resveratrol and plant polysaccharides.
Noni contains all the antioxidant vitamins, many flavonoids, all trace elements and thus acts as a powerful antioxidants.
Endogenous antioxidants and role of Noni : Our body has evolved with endogenous defense mechanisms to protect against free radical induced cell damage. Glutathione peroxidase, catalase and Superoxide dismutases are three primary antioxidant enzymes in our body, which involved in direct elimination of free radicals or reactive oxygen species from our body. They require micronutrients like selenium, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese as cofactors for their formation and optimum catalytic and effective antioxidant activity. Noni contains all the trace minerals that help optimum catalytic activity of those three important antioxidant enzymes for an effective antioxidant defense mechanism.
Glutathione, ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, bilirubin, selenium, dihydrolipoic acid, reduced CoQ10, melatonin, uric acid etc., as a whole play a homoeostatic or protective role against ROS produced during normal cellular metabolism and after active oxidation insult. Noni contains all the above phyto chemicals and vitamins in abundant quantity. Glutathione (GSH) is the most significant component which directly quenches Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) such as lipid peroxides and plays major role in xenobiotic metabolism. Glutathione is a tripeptide made up of the amino acids gamma-glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine. Noni contains all those glutathione making amino acids in abundant number. Thus Noni increases the body’s glutathione level. Noni stimulates more melatonin secretion from the pineal body. It also maintains ascorbate (vitamin C) and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), in their reduced form, which also exert an antioxidant effect by quenching free radicals.
Exogenous antioxidants: Contribution from Noni
A number of other dietary antioxidants known as phytonutrients or phytochemicals are being increasingly appreciated for their antioxidant activity. One example is flavonoids which are a group of polyphenolic compounds. They are responsible for the different brilliant colors like blue, scarlet and orange. Noni contains 150 and above phytochemicals including all flavonoids. Flavonoids exhibit several biological effects like antitumoural, anti-ischaemic, anti-allergic, anti-hepatotoxic, anti-ulcerative and anti inflammatory activities. These are also known to inhibit activities of several bad enzymes like lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase, monooxygenase, xanthine oxidase, glutathione-S transferase, mitochondrial succino-oxidase and protein kinases. Many of the biological activities of flavonoids are attributed to their antioxidant properties and free radical scavenging capabilities. Noni is rich with many flavonoids.
Recommended Dosage
Divine Noni Concentrate
5ml morning and 5ml evening for 3 days. Then
10ml morning and 10ml evening for next 3 days. Then
15ml morning and 15ml evening for next 8 months.
