Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if inositol is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Be cautious with this combinatio Studies have found that inositol may be beneficial for improving the function of the ovaries and fertility in women with PCOS ( 16, 17, 18). Myo-inositol is involved in the metabolism, transport and breakdown of glucose and its conversion to glycogen. It is a key factor involved in insulin signalling, and is an immediate precursor to another type of inositol, D-chiro-inositol, which interacts with select sugars in the body to form inositol phosphoglycans – these play an important role in mediating the actions of insulin. 6-12 Low levels of myo-inositol, D-chiro-inositol and inositol phosphoglycans have been observed in individuals with impaired insulin sensitivity and PCOS. 6-12

M.G., et al., Effects of short-term treatment with metformin on serum concentrations of homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J Intern Med, 2003. 254(5): p. 455-63. Weight - M Nordio, E Proietti The combined therapy with myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol reduces the risk of metabolic disease in PCOS overweight patients compared to myo-inositol supplementation alone Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. (2012 May) However, slightly reducing the dose of inositol appeared to improve these symptoms in some studies ( 1). Glycemic Control - Miñambres I, Cuixart G, Gonçalves A, Corcoy R Effects of inositol on glucose homeostasis: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Clin Nutr. (2019 Jun)

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Du Y, He Y, Wang YL, Zhou JG, Chen C The efficacy and safety of inositol supplementation in preterm infants to prevent retinopathy of prematurity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Ophthalmol. (2019-Jun-25) With 750mg inositol in each of these capsules, it’s easier than ever to supplement your daily inositol intake. 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. Myo-inositol has shown statistically significant (but small) improvements in unwanted hair [ 29]. One study found that it helped about a third of women with hirsutism. More than half of the women studied also saw significant improvements in PCOS acne [ 30]. 6. Weight Loss Benefits are Small at Best Women with PCOS are at a higher risk of several diseases and can experience infertility issues ( 15).

As you will no doubt be gathering by now, there is significant potential for the use of myo-inositol. For women suffering with the many debilitating faces of PCOS; from insulin resistance to excess androgens, anovulation and more, myo-inositol has the potential to offer significant and wide-ranging benefits. And whilst myo-inositol has demonstrated significant benefits in women with PCOS, its use is not limited here. Insulin resistance is one of the underlying causes of PCOS [ 9, 10]. It’s also the primary reason that PCOS is associated with metabolic syndrome and several chronic diseases [ 11, 12]. Insulin resistance occurs when your cells stop responding properly to insulin. This drives insulin levels up and impacts blood sugar regulation. I use these ingredients in a lot of my PCOS recipes. Many also feature in my free 30-Day PCOS Diet Challenge and free 3-Day Meal Plan. Wei J, Yan J, Yang H Inositol Nutritional Supplementation for the Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. (2022-Jul-09) Inositol can be used to produce molecules that are involved in insulin’s action in your cells ( 9).Bizzarri M, Fuso A, Dinicola S, Cucina A, Bevilacqua A Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of inositol(s) in health and disease. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. (2016-Oct) Autism Symptoms - Levine J, Aviram A, Holan A, Ring A, Barak Y, Belmaker RH Inositol treatment of autism J Neural Transm. (1997) 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. M.G., et al., Inositol for subfertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2018. 12(12): p. Cd012378. Kofman O, Einat H, Cohen H, Tenne H, Shoshana C The anxiolytic effect of chronic inositol depends on the baseline level of anxiety. J Neural Transm (Vienna). (2000)

P.G., et al., Endocrine and clinical effects of myo-inositol administration in polycystic ovary syndrome. A randomized study. Gynecol Endocrinol, 2013. 29(4): p. 375-9.In addition, a large proportion of women also have excessive androgen secretion or activity (hyperandrogenism) and abnormal insulin activity. 2 Many body systems are affected in polycystic ovary syndrome resulting in several health complications which may include menstrual dysfunction, infertility, miscarriage, acne, oily skin, depression, obesity, hirsutism, hair loss, insulin resistance and increased risk of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and chronic low grade inflammation. 2,3 Take my PCOS inositol quiz to find out if a 40:1 ratio is best for you. 10. Ovasitol is the Best 40:1 Ratio Brand for PCOS Inositol supplements are safe when used as directed. They can improve metabolic health, fertility, skin, and hair. Inositol supplements alter insulin sensitivity. Because of this, they’re most effective when also following a PCOS diet. F., et al., Short-term effects of metformin and myo-inositol in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Gynecol Endocrinol, 2019. 35(3): p. 198-206. In a prospective clinical study carried out in Rome in 2008, researchers investigated the effects of myo-inositol on two of the most common features of PCOS, hirsutism and hyperandrogenism. In the study, 46 women were evaluated at baseline and then again, following treatment with myo-inositol for 6 months. Results showed that treatment with myo-inositol significantly reduced hirsutism, hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance. 16

Inositol supplements have even been given to pregnant women at doses of around 4 grams per day with no concerning effects ( 11). But the best inositol supplement for PCOS contains both myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol. Studies show that a mixture of 40 parts myo-inositol to 1-part D-chiro-inositol is more effective than other formulations [ 49]. 40:1 is the physiological ratio that these two inositol isomers are found in the body.

In a 2018 randomised controlled trial published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology researchers compared the effects of 12 weeks of intervention with either myo-inositol or metformin on mental health parameters and biomarkers of oxidative stress in 60 subjects with PCOS. Results showed that after the 12-week intervention, changes in general health, depression, anxiety & stress, and plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) concentrations in the myo-inositol group were significantly different from the changes in these indicators in the metformin group. The researchers concluded that their data supported that myo-inositol supplementation for 12 weeks among patients with PCOS has favourable effects on parameters of mental health and plasma TAC levels. 23 M. and D.T. Archer, Metformin and Micronutrient Status in Type 2 Diabetes: Does Polypharmacy Involving Acid-Suppressing Medications Affect Vitamin B12 Levels? Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes, 2020. 13: p. 2093-2108.