• The Role of Seafood Diet in Improving Fertility Outcomes and Metabolic Markers in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Narrative Review
  • Sana Sasani,1 Fatemeh Afsharirad,2,*
    1. Bachelor student of Midwifery, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran
    2. Bachelor student of Midwifery, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran


  • Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age. This syndrome is often associated with problems such as high androgen levels, insulin resistance, menstrual irregularities, and subsequent fertility problems. Nutritional modification can be considered as the first line of treatment for PCOS. Nutritional modification, especially the use of a marine diet with ovulation induction. This diet includes omega-3, vitamin D, protein and zinc. The sources of this diet increase the chances of pregnancy by mechanisms of reducing insulin resistance, reducing inflammation, and affecting sex hormones. However, there is disagreement regarding the positive or negative effect of a marine diet on PCOS. For example, some studies point to a positive effect of omega-3 in this diet on symptoms. A study in China showed that a marine diet is associated with an increase in PCOS symptoms in people with insulin resistance or hormonal imbalance. This review examines the effects of a Marine diet on reproductive health.
  • Methods: In this narrative review, we searched PubMed and Google Scholar databases using combined keywords such as Seafood, PCOS, Fertility, Omega-3 and Diet Related English and Persian studies published between 2010 and 2024 were reviewed.
  • Results: The severity of PCOS is related to the severity of the disease. Therefore, case-control and clinical evidence-based studies have shown that a marine diet can reduce the risk and, the findings of this study showed that this diet can improve insulin metabolism, modulate hormonal status, can protect neurons. The omega-3s in this diet have anti-inflammatory effects on the brain and may reduce testosterone and reduce inflammation, by providing nutrients that help regulate the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). This change can help normalize the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland, which in women with PCOS is usually expressed as a ratio of FSH/LH. Vitamin D in this diet has a regulatory role in the expression of genes related to ovulation, and its receptors have also been found in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and ovary. Improving helps improve thyroid function by acting as a cofactor in thyroid hormone and restores menstrual regularity. Insufficient consumption of seafood, which provides protein synthesis, provides the amino acid tyrosine. Available evidence supports that the hypothesis is rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, which may contribute to the exacerbation of metabolic features of PCOS, including insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism. In a 2019 case-control study, women with PCOS who consumed a seafood diet showed higher fertility rates and better response to ovulation induction In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) cycles. Therefore, a seafood diet may promote reproductive health by improving the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis.
  • Conclusion: The results of studies show that a marine diet can significantly improve the symptoms of PCOS. By reducing insulin resistance and regulating the sex pituitary-ovarian axis, ultimately leading to improved hormones, this diet helps improve the quality of ovulation and balance the hypothalamic-reproductive health and increase success in assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF. Despite these results hopefully, further research will be conducted by designing larger clinical trials with longer time periods to investigate the precise mechanisms of effect. The marine diet is recommended for hormones, ovarian function, and fertility parameters. Also, future studies could investigate the combination of the marine diet with other types of diets effective on PCOS or the role of a personalized marine diet on PCOS and more precisely determine their role in improving the response to fertility treatments such as IVF. Ultimately, the choice of diet should be based on individual needs, health status, and personal preferences. To avoid possible complications, it is recommended that the diet be selected and managed under the supervision of a nutritionist. Overall, it seems that the marine diet can help manage PCOS and reproductive health, but it cannot replace medical treatments such as medication or IVF.
  • Keywords: Seafood diet, polycystic ovary syndrome, reproductive health