Supplements · Metabolic & Cardiometabolic
PCOS increases homocysteine
Part of: • PCOS
📅 Last reviewed: 2026-07-15 ⓘ
Evidence ladder
How far up the ladder this claim has climbed. A high consensus on a low rung means "consistent so far," not "proven in people."
Top evidence so far: All trials, pooled (Meta-analysis)
How the studies fall
What the evidence shows
PCOS is associated with higher homocysteine and lower B12/folate vs controls.
The evidence (5)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asanidze E, Tsetskhladze ZR, Kristesashvili J, Pirtskhalava M, Urjumelashvili M, Tchiokadze S, Vakhania M, Parunashvili N, Asanidze A 2025 · International journal of fertility & sterility | observational | supports | moderate | Case-control, Georgian women: PCOS (n=96) vs non-PCOS controls (n=81). Mean Hcy higher in PCOS-with-RPL 13.7±2.7 vs PCOS-no-RPL 10.3±2.6 vs non-PCOS-RPL 11.5±2.3 vs healthy controls 7.3±2.2 µmol/L, p<0.001 across groups; no BMI-adjustment r |
| Lin X, Jin Y, Hong S 2024 · Int J Endocrinol | observational | mixed | moderate | Two-sample MR, 'Hcy as the exposure, and PCOS as the outcome': 'plasma Hcy levels were not causally associated with the risk of PCOS in the meta-analysis (combined effect = 1.032, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.885–1.203, p =0.688)'. Tests the reverse direction only; no PCOS -> homocysteine estimate, so it does not bear on this claim's object. Off-scope (zero weight); the finding belongs to a would-be claim 'homocysteine causes PCOS'. |
| hcy-pcos-2019 2019 · Georgian medical news | observational | supports | moderate | Case-control (n=80): homocysteine 11.5+/-2.24 vs 7.55+/-2.45 umol/L (p<0.001); HHcy 70% vs 54%; correlated w/ HOMA-IR/BMI/androgens. |
| Ulloque-Badaracco JR, Al-Kassab-Córdova A, Hernández-Bustamante EA, Alarcón-Braga EA, Cabrera-Guzmán JC, Horruitiner-Mendoza AA, Robles-Valcárcel P, Benites-Zapata VA, Pérez-López FR 2024 · Womens Health (Lond) | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | PCOS associated with higher homocysteine and lower B12/folate vs controls. |
| pcos-hcy-georgia-2023 2023 · International journal of reproductive biomedicine | observational | supports | moderate | Case-control: hyperhomocysteinemia more frequent in PCOS, esp. with recurrent pregnancy loss. |
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