PCOS and Myo-inositol

Since discovering that my latest miscarriage occurred because of Trisomy 4 I’ve been doing a lot of research into how you can help the development of your eggs. I’ve read books and many articles regarding this topic and one supplement kept being discussed so I looked into it even further.

The supplement we will discuss today is Myo-inositol.  Myo-inositol (MI) is a part of the B vitamin complex and is a known insulin-sensitizer.  It has also been shown to improve both physical (hirsutism and acne) and reproductive (anovulation and amenorrhea) manifestations of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).  In addition, myo-inositol plays a role in cell growth and early studies indicated that higher levels of MI in the follicular fluid was associated with better egg quality.

In a Double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation which was carried out in 42 women with PCOS, subjects receiving myo-inositol fared much better when compared to the placebo group, displaying decreases in testosterone, triglycerides, and blood pressure; a significant improvement in insulin sensitivity; and a greatly increased frequency of ovulation (Costantino 2009).

In another study, 20 women with PCOS were given either 2 grams of myo-inositol plus 200 mcg folic acid, or a placebo of 200 mcg folic acid daily. After 12 weeks, the women taking myo-inositol showed improved insulin sensitivity and androgen levels. Strikingly, all the subjects receiving myo-inositol returned to normal menstrual cycles (Genazzani 2008).

In an Italian study of 92 PCOS patients, almost 50% showed significant weight loss and reduced leptin levels after receiving myo-inositol plus folic acid (4 g myo-inositol plus 400 mcg folic acid). After a 14-wk treatment, the myo-inositol plus folic acid group lost weight, whereas the placebo group gained weight (Gerli 2007).

A six-month study involving 50 PCOS women yielded similar results and gave researchers the time to evaluate the effects of myo-inositol on hirsutism. Along with decreases in testosterone and insulin levels, the participants who supplemented with myo-inositol experienced a reduction in hirsutism, and improvements in skin appearance, leading researches to conclude, “Myo-inositol administration is a simple and safe treatment that ameliorates the metabolic profile of patients with PCOS, reducing hirsutism and acne.” (Zacchè 2009).

I’ve heard of Inositol a few times and one of my friends that has dealt with PCOS and infertility for years started taking this and ended up pregnant right away. I have looked into different forms of the supplement and have chosen to try Pregnitude. Pregnitude is Myo-inositol and folic acid in a tasteless powder. I will update you at a later time on how this affects me.




references:
http://www.lef.org/protocols/female-reproductive/polycystic-ovary-syndrome/Page-02?checked=1