The
cytochrome P450 family 17 (
CYP17) is associated with
hyperandrogenism in women, and the association between
CYP17 gene polymorphism and the risk of
polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not definitive. In order to determine whether the
CYP17 T/C (rs74357) gene polymorphism is an exposure risk for PCOS, a comprehensive meta-analysis summarizing 19 studies was performed. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and the corresponding 95% CI were measured under five genetic models, and the stratified analyses by ethnicity, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium,
testosterone levels and BMI in controls were carried out to identify the causes of substantial heterogeneity. The overall results validated that the
CYP17 T/C (rs74357) gene polymorphism was significantly associated with PCOS risk in four genetic models. Moreover, the outcomes of subgroup analysis by ethnicity indicated that the frequencies of the C allele of
CYP17 T/C (rs74357) polymorphism were markedly higher in women from Asia than in Caucasians (T vs C: OR 0.85, 95% CI = 0.74-0.99, P < 0.05). Therefore, these findings suggested that the
CYP17 T/C (rs74357) gene polymorphism played an indispensable part in increasing the susceptibility of PCOS when carrying the C allele, which proposed that the polymorphism of the
CYP17 gene may be a predictive factor for the risk of PCOS or an important pathway in PCOS-associated metabolic and hormonal dysregulation.