Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
According to the present meta-analysis, inositols have a beneficial effect on all aspects of PCOS. First, inositols reduce serum total and free testosterone and androstenedione levels, increase SHBG levels, and normalize cycle length compared to placebo. On the other hand, in all these parameters, they were not inferior to metformin. Furthermore, a significant decrease was found in fasting glucose and AUC insulin levels and BMI in the inositol-treated groups. Of the analyzed isomers, myoinositol has the most supported benefit. Finally, compared to metformin, inositols showed fewer side effects. Four studies comparing inositol to placebo reported no side effects for inositols. Furthermore, four studies comparing inositol to metformin showed a lower rate of side effects in the inositol group (7 vs. 53%, RR = 0.16, CI: 0.09; 0.28, Figure S 16.). Side effects in the metformin group were bloating, nausea, and generalized weakness. Risk of bias assessment, quality of evidence A, Arslan S, Kocaadam B, Elibol E, İmamoğlu İ, Karadağ MG Effect of inositol and its derivatives on diabetes: a systematic review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. (2019) Susuki S et al. Urinary chiro-inositol excretion is an index marker of insulin sensitivity in Japanese type II diabetes. Diabetes Care. 1994 Dec;17(12):1465-8. Cabrera-Cruz H, Orostica L, et al. The insulin-sensitizing mechanism of myo-inositol is associated with AMPK activation and GLUT-4 expression in human endometrial cells exposed to a PCOS environment. American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism. 3 Feb 2020.
Pundir J, Psaroudakis D, Savnur P, Bhide P, Sabatini L, Teede H, et al. Inositol treatment of anovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomised trials. BJOG. 2018;125(3):299–308. Studies have found that inositol may be beneficial for improving the function of the ovaries and fertility in women with PCOS ( 16, 17, 18). Clements RS, Darnell B Myo-inositol content of common foods: development of a high-myo-inositol diet. Am J Clin Nutr. (1980-Sep) A 2017 randomised controlled trial was carried out to compare the effects of metformin and myo-inositol on clinical, metabolic and genetic parameters in women with PCOS. The researchers concluded that, “overall, taking myo-inositol, compared with metformin, for 12 weeks in patients with PCOS with hyperinsulinism and normoinsulinism had beneficial effects on total testosterone, mFG scores, serum hs-CRP levels and gene expression of IL-1, but did not affect other hormonal profiles, NO levels or gene expression of IL-8 and TNF-α.” 26 Costantino D, Minozzi G et al. Metabolic and hormonal effects of myo-inositol in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a double-blind trial. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2009 Mar-Apr;13(2):105-10.In the treatment of PCOS, metformin is the gold standard metabolic treatment [ 4, 10]. However, metformin may induce mild to severe gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and flatulence [ 11]. Therefore, alternative treatment with fewer side effects would be beneficial in managing these patients. In recent years, several studies have analyzed the potential effects of inositol supplementation, suggesting that inositols are potent alternatives for metformin in treating PCOS [ 12, 13, 14, 15, 16]. Teede H, Misso M, Costello M, Dokras A, Laven J, Moran L, Piltonen T, and Robert Norman on behalf of the International PCOS Network in collaboration with funding, partner and collaborating organisations. International evidence based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Melbourne: Monash University; 2018. Fertility - Ciotta L, Stracquadanio M, Pagano I, Carbonaro A, Palumbo M, Gulino F Effects of myo-inositol supplementation on
A number of recent studies have found myo-inositol to be an effective support in PCOS, in part due to its ability to improve insulin sensitivity, restore hormonal balance, improve menstrual regularity, reduce hyperandrogenism and influence ovarian function. Research has also demonstrated fertility-improving effects of myo-inositol among women with PCOS; and since the syndrome is the leading cause of female infertility, these results are particularly encouraging. 13-22
Schillaci R, Mangione D, Lo Monte G, Vassiliadis A. Inositol supplementation and IVF outcome: Preliminary data. Italian J Gynaecol Obstetr. 2012;24(1):38–44. According to our data, inositols are non-inferior to metformin regarding its effect on free and total testosterone, androstenedione, and SHBG. In accordance with our results, Zhang et al. found similar improvement in total testosterone, SHBG, BMI, fasting insulin (FI), and fasting blood glucose (FBG), while Fanchinetti et al. in testosterone, androstenedione, and SHBG levels after inositol treatment compared to metformin [ 3, 56]. Jung TS et al. Determination of urinary Myo-/chiro-inositol ratios from Korean diabetes patients. Yonsei Med J. 2005 Aug 31;46(4):532-8. PCOS is a syndrome that occurs when a woman’s body produces abnormally high amounts of certain hormones.
Great Deal 
New Comment