Research Update: PCOS with Professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin

08/09/21 • 56 min

In this episode, Professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin from Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, shares understandings regarding the aetiology of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) according to the latest research. As a researcher, Elisabet and her team hope to uncover underlying causes of the disease, with the aim of finding better treatments in future. Interestingly, 20 genetic variations have been identified as well as links between androgen exposure in foetal life and epigenetic changes. Tune in to hear more from Professor Stener-Victorin.

*Highlights *

Potential causes of PCOS (3:00)
Insights from Elisabet’s research (15:30)
How excess androgens in utero impact both genders (23:00)
What causes elevated androgen exposure in utero? (30:00)
Inflammation – a cause or consequence of PCOS? (37:00)
Is the microbiome playing a role in PCOS? (39:30)
The influence of electro-acupuncture on PCOS (42:30)
Therapeutics on the horizon (52:00)

Useful links and resources

Professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin - https://staff.ki.se/people/elisabet-stener-victorin
Professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin’s research group - https://ki.se/en/fyfa/reproductive-endocrinology-and-metabolism-group-page
http://ki.se/en/fyfa/reproductive-endocrinology-and-metabolism
https://www.monash.edu/medicine/sphpm/mchri/pcos/guideline

Recent publications

Risal, S., et al. Prenatal androgen exposure and transgenerational susceptibility to polycystic ovary syndrome. Nature medicine 25, 1894-1904 (2019).
Risal S. , et al. Prenatal androgen exposure causes a sexually dimorphic transgenerational increase in offspring susceptibility to anxiety disorders. Transl Psychiatry. 2021 Jan 13;11(1):45. doi: 10.1038/s41398-020-01183-9.PMID: 33441551
Stener-Victorin, E., et al. Animal models to understand the etiology and pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome. Endocr Rev (2020).
Stener-Victorin, E and Deng, Q. Epigenetic inheritance of polycystic ovary syndrome - challenges and opportunities for treatment Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2021 Jul 7. doi: 10.1038/s41574-021-00517-x. Online ahead of print.PMID: 34234312
Stener-Victorin E, Deng Q. Transmission of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome via Epigenetic Inheritance. Trends Mol Med. 2021 Jun 11:S1471-4914(21)00129-5. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.05.005. Online ahead of print.PMID: 34127396

*Highlights *

Potential causes of PCOS (3:00)
Insights from Elisabet’s research (15:30)
How excess androgens in utero impact both genders (23:00)
What causes elevated androgen exposure in utero? (30:00)
Inflammation – a cause or consequence of PCOS? (37:00)
Is the microbiome playing a role in PCOS? (39:30)
The influence of electro-acupuncture on PCOS (42:30)
Therapeutics on the horizon (52:00)

Useful links and resources

Professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin - https://staff.ki.se/people/elisabet-stener-victorin
Professor Elisabet Stener-Victorin’s research group - https://ki.se/en/fyfa/reproductive-endocrinology-and-metabolism-group-page
http://ki.se/en/fyfa/reproductive-endocrinology-and-metabolism
https://www.monash.edu/medicine/sphpm/mchri/pcos/guideline

Recent publications

Risal, S., et al. Prenatal androgen exposure and transgenerational susceptibility to polycystic ovary syndrome. Nature medicine 25, 1894-1904 (2019).
Risal S. , et al. Prenatal androgen exposure causes a sexually dimorphic transgenerational increase in offspring susceptibility to anxiety disorders. Transl Psychiatry. 2021 Jan 13;11(1):45. doi: 10.1038/s41398-020-01183-9.PMID: 33441551
Stener-Victorin, E., et al. Animal models to understand the etiology and pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome. Endocr Rev (2020).
Stener-Victorin, E and Deng, Q. Epigenetic inheritance of polycystic ovary syndrome - challenges and opportunities for treatment Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2021 Jul 7. doi: 10.1038/s41574-021-00517-x. Online ahead of print.PMID: 34234312
Stener-Victorin E, Deng Q. Transmission of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome via Epigenetic Inheritance. Trends Mol Med. 2021 Jun 11:S1471-4914(21)00129-5. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.05.005. Online ahead of print.PMID: 34127396

Previous Episode

Reversing Diabetes with Prof Roy Taylor

Professor Roy Taylor is the Director of Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre and an honorary consultant Physician. He specialises in the application of magnetic resonance spectroscopy to clinical medicine, metabolic research in diabetes, as well as teaching in diabetes and obstetric medicine, and much more. Professor Taylor is also the author of books Life Without Diabetes and Your Simple Guide to Reversing Type 2 Diabetes. In this episode, Nathan talks to Roy about the significance of muscle insulin sensitivity, your personal fat threshold, GLP-agonists and most importantly, how caloric restriction can reverse diabetes. Professor Taylor’s passion for the topic is palpable and makes for a great podcast!

*Highlights *

Why excess caloric intake matters (3:50)
Introduction to the twin cycle hypothesis (7:00)
The significance of visceral fat (16:35)
Muscle insulin sensitivity (19:10)
Your personal fat threshold (26:35)
Reversing diabetes with caloric restriction (32:40)
Caloric restriction in action (43:40)
GLP-1 agonists (54:00)
Research on the horizon (1:00:00)

Useful links and resources:

The study Prof Taylor mentions:
Very Low-Calorie Diet and 6 Months of Weight Stability in Type 2 Diabetes: Pathophysiological Changes in Responders and Nonresponders - https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/41/6/1321.1

Review article by Prof Taylor: Type 2 diabetes and remission: practical management guided by pathophysiology - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8247294/

Prof Taylor's books: https://www.amazon.com/Professor-Roy-Taylor/e/B0831TXHKF%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Next Episode

COVID-19 Related Health Behaviours – How Evolution and Culture Influence Our Choices with Professor Ron Fischer

In this episode Nathan dips his toes into the field of psychology, speaking with Professor Ron Fischer about evolutionary psychology, parasite stress theory and how cultural norms and attitudes influence health behaviours, specifically with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Ron’s research interests include value and personality processes, with a specific focus on evolutionary dynamics across time and cultures as well as how values and personal traits influence our health and well-being.

This fascinating conversation provides insight into potential influences of COVID-19 related health behaviour; tune in for a deeper understanding into what motivates our choice to social distance, wear masks and receive a vaccination.

Highlights

Introduction to evolutionary psychology (6:00)
The Schwartz Model (12:00)
Parasite stress theory (20:00)
COVID-19 related health behaviours (33:30)
Insights into COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (45:40)
Behavioural intentions regarding COVID-19 (59:30)

Useful Links and Resources
About Professor Ronald Fischer: https://people.wgtn.ac.nz/Ronald.Fischer/grants

Research:
Fischer R, Bortolini T, Pilati R, Porto J, Moll J. Values and COVID-19 worries: The importance of emotional stability traits. Personality and Individual Differences. 2021 Jun 22:111079.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886921004566?via%3Dihub
Fischer R, Karl JA. Predicting Behavioral Intentions to Prevent or Mitigate COVID-19: A Cross-Cultural Meta-Analysis of Attitudes, Norms, and Perceived Behavioral Control Effects. Social Psychological and Personality Science. 2020 Nov 17:19485506211019844.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/19485506211019844
Edwards B, Biddle N, Gray M, Sollis K. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance: Correlates in a nationally representative longitudinal survey of the Australian population. PLoS One. 2021 Mar 24;16(3):e0248892. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248892.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0248892
Thornhill R, Fincher CL. The parasite-stress theory of sociality, the behavioral immune system, and human social and cognitive uniqueness. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences. 2014 Oct;8(4):257.
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2014-41070-006

You Tube Videos:
Parasite stress & human behavioral immune system
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFqaAokX5Ao
Has COVID-19 changed who we are? The case of human values
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhtLQmUHD_I&t=849s