ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT06199024Updated Jan 10, 2024

Cinnamon and COH in PCOS Women Underdoing IVF/ICSI Cycles

An interventional study of Oral cinnamon supplementation in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, sponsored by Royan Institute. Recruiting at 1 site in Iran, Islamic Republic of. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 38 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-01-10.

Sponsored by Royan Institute · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Nov 2025, 11 months ago, but the record still lists the study as recruiting.
  • Started Nov 2023; still recruiting 2 years 11 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
80
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 38 Years
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

In patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, insulin resistance increases, and since the extracts from cinnamon reduces insulin resistance by two mechanisms (1- increasing activation of the IRS/PI-3 kinase insulin signaling pathway and 2- stimulate auto phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and inhibit protein tyrosine phosphatase I). Through these two mechanisms cinnamon extract make adipocytes to increase the glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis. So this hypothesis arises that it can be effective in improving the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Read the detailed description

This double-blind randomized clinical trial will be conducted in Royan Institute on patients with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing in vitro fertilization cycle treatment to evaluate the effect of Cinnamon supplementation during controlled ovarian stimulation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.PCOS cases were diagnosed based on the Rotterdam criteria (4), and the presence of at least two of the following criteria: menstrual irregularity (cycle length \<26 days or >35 days or variation between consecutive cycles of >10 days); clinical (presence of hirsutism evaluated by a Ferriman- Gallwey score >8, severe acne and alopecia) or biochemical (total testosterone concentration >0.5 ng/ml and/or free testosterone>3.5 pg/ml) hyperandrogenism; or ultrasound evidence of polycystic ovaries. Hirsutism was assessed according to the Ferriman-Gallwey-score and examination of nine body areas for coarse terminal hair, including upper lip, chin and chest, upper and lower areas of the abdomen, thighs and upper arms. In each part, the severity of hirsutism was graded from 1 to 4 and the participants with the total score of 8 and above considered as having hirsutism. PCOM was defined as the presence of 12 or more ovarian cysts with 2-10 mm diameter per ovary and/or ovarian volume ≥10 cm3. Vaginal ultrasound was performed by an ultrasound specialist and radiologist using an Aloka α-10 with a transvaginal 6-7.5 MHz probe (Medison Co., Japan).

The controlled ovarian stimulation method will be the same in all participants using the standard antagonist protocol. All patients diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome who are eligible based on the Rotterdam criteria and other inclusion and exclusion criteria stated in the general information section of the clinical trial and who have written consent to participate in the study will be examined. Patients will be randomly assigned into two groups using the block method in a size of 6, and each person will be given an exclusive code to keep the allocation hidden. The details of random allocation in terms of drug and placebo grouping are solely at the disposal of the project's pharmacist colleague, who have no role in the process of sampling and follow-up of patients.The medicine packages, as well as the appearance and smell of cinnamon and placebo tablets, are completely similar to each other. The methodologist prepared the drugs based on the block randomization method and prepared the coded list and put an English three-letter code label on the medicine cans. When an eligible patient is referred to a clinical physician, the principal investigator provides him with an envelope containing a drug code based on a randomized list, and the drug package with the same code is delivered to the patient. In this way, the patient and the clinical doctor following the patient will not know the type of drug (cinnamon or placebo).The method of ovarian stimulation and placebo consumption in the control group will be completely similar to the intervention group. In the intervention group, women will take 1500 mg daily (3500 mg cinnamon tablets, Sagepad Darou Pharmaceutical Company, Iran) that is, 4 weeks before the start of the new IVF cycle and 2 weeks during the ovarian stimulation process. Control group: patients take 3 placebo pills daily (containing white wheat flour, which is similar to cinnamon pills in terms of size, shape, color and smell, Sagepad Darou Pharmaceutical Company, Iran) 4 weeks before starting the ovarian stimulation/in vitro fertilization (COS/IVF) cycle and 2 weeks during the ovarian stimulation procedure, the ovary will be stimulated. Total number of retrieved oocytes and total number of MII oocytes will be compared between groups as primary outcomes.

02

Conditions studied

  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
03

In context

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

956 studies on the registry are indexed under Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; 176 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 80 is above the median of 70 across 697 interventional studies indexed under Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Browse Polycystic Ovary Syndrome studies →

Lead sponsor

Royan Institute is the lead sponsor of 94 studies on the registry; 3 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 38 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria who meet at least 2 of the following three criteria including: (1) oligomenorrhea or anovulation, (2) hyperandrogenism (clinical or biochemical ng/ dL 80 ≤ serum T level), (3) the presence of polycystic ovaries in ultrasound).
  • The age range of 18 to 38 year.
  • Written consent to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • above 35 kg/m2
  • Chronic and Endocrine disorders including diabetes mellitus, hyperprolactinemia, hypertension, Cushing's syndrome
  • disorders
  • History of recurrent pregnancy loss
  • Genital, ovarian or uterine abnormalities
  • Hydrosalpinx diagnosis
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, androgen-producing tumors or acromegaly
  • Sensitivity to cinnamon
  • Daily and frequent consumption of cinnamon to treat infertility
  • Severe male factor infertility
  • Moderate to severe endometriosis diagnosis Use of other hypoglycemic, insulin-sensitizing drugs (e.g. Metformin) or other antioxidant supplement (e.g. Myo-inositol) and β-blocker before or during the study
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

BMI (body mass index)

Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.

What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
80 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Cinnamon supplementation

    In intervention group patients will take 1500 mg daily (3 tablets of cinnamon 500 mg, Sagepad Darou Pharmaceutical Company, Iran) that is, 4 weeks before the start of the new IVF cycle and 2 weeks during the ovarian stimulation process.

    Dietary Supplement: Oral cinnamon supplementation

  • Placebo comparator
    Control group

    Patients take 3 placebo pills daily (containing white wheat flour, which is similar to cinnamon pills in terms of size, shape, color and smell, Sagepad Darou Pharmaceutical Company, Iran) 4 weeks before starting the ovarian stimulation/in vitro fertilization (COS/IVF) cycle and 2 weeks during the ovarian stimulation procedure, the ovary will be stimulated

    Dietary Supplement: Oral cinnamon supplementation

Interventions

  • Dietary supplementOral cinnamon supplementation

    In intervention group patients will take 1500 mg daily (3 tablets of cinnamon 500 mg, Sagepad Darou Pharmaceutical Company, Iran) that is, 4 weeks before the start of the new IVF cycle and 2 weeks during the ovarian stimulation process.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Total number of retrieved oocytes

    At the point of ovum pick-up, the total number of retrieved oocytes is counted by the embryologist. Therefore, it will be possible to measure the results one hour after oocytes retrieval.

    Time frame: 32-34 hours after hCG administration (approximately 6 weeks after intervention)

  2. Total number of mature (MII) oocytes

    At the point of ovum pick-up, the total number of retrieved oocytes is counted by the embryologist. Therefore, it will be possible to measure the results one hour after oocytes retrieval.

    Time frame: 32-34 hours after hCG administration (approximately 6 weeks after intervention)

  3. Oocyte recovery ratio

    This ratio is obtained by dividing the total number of retrieved oocytes by the total number of aspirated follicles from both ovaries.

    Time frame: 32-34 hours after hCG administration (approximately 6 weeks after intervention)

  4. Oocyte maturity rate

    This ratio is calculated by dividing the number of mature oocytes (MII) obtained by the total number of retrieved oocytes from both ovaries.

    Time frame: 32-34 hours after hCG administration (approximately 6 weeks after intervention)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Fertilization rate

    The fertilization rate is defined as the ratio between the number of diploid zygotes and the number of mature oocytes

    Time frame: 17-18 h after intracytoplasmic sperm injection and/or in-vitro insemination by checking the number of polar bodies and pronuclei

  2. Quality of obtained embryos

    Embryo grade is assessed under an inverted microscope 3 days after the intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure. The quality of embryos is graded from 1 to 3 under inverted microscope 3 days after the intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure. Embryos with even-sized blastomeres and/or ≤10% fragments is classified as Grade 1 (Excellent or good quality). Grade 2 embryos (moderate or fair quality) have blastomeres with slightly-moderate size differences and/or 10- 20% fragments. Grade 3 embryos (poor quality) have markedly different-sized blastomeres and/or \>20% fragments.

    Time frame: 3 days after intracytoplasmic sperm injection or in vitro fertilization (IVF/ICSI) procedure

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Royan Institute
    Tehran, 1665659911, Iran, Islamic Republic of
    Recruiting
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jan 10, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06199024
Lead sponsor
Royan Institute
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jan 10, 2024
Start date
Nov 21, 2023
Primary completion
Nov 21, 2025 (estimated)
Completion
Feb 21, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Jan 10, 2024

Study contacts

Maryam Hafezi, M.D
Contact
maryamhafezi90@gmail.com
+98 21 2356 2000
Parvaneh Afsharian, Ph.D
Contact
p.afsharian@royan-rc.ac.ir
+98 21 2356 2000
Parvaneh Afsharian, Ph.D
study chair · Royan Institute
Zeynab Siahnouri, Doctor
study director · Royan Institute

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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