Exploring the interactions of gut microbiome and metabolites in polycystic ovary syndrome: a review

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine metabolic disorder significantly impacting female health. While its etiology remains incompletely understood, emerging evidence highlights the gut microbiome as a key modulator, affecting not only the gut but also physiology beyond it. Many studies have been committed to exploring the role played by the gut microbiome and have discovered that gut microbiome is commonly dysregulated in PCOS patients. In this review, we offered an introduction to PCOS and summarized the high-quality research in recent years to elucidate the complex interactions between endogenous metabolites with the gut microbiome in PCOS. Furthermore, we also discuss microbiome-targeting therapeutic strategies. By integrating current knowledge on the gut microbiome-metabolite axis, this review aims to provide novel insights and perspectives for future research and potential management of PCOS.