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Myoinositol reduces testosterone levels in PCOS
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In women with polycystic ovary syndrome and either hyperinsulinism or normal insulin, treatment with myoinositol is associated with reduction in total testosterone and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein compared with metformin, according to researchers.
Zatollah Asemi, PhD, of the Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases at Kashan University of Medical Science in Iran, and colleagues evaluated 60 women with PCOS randomly assigned to myoinositol 2 g plus folic acid 200 µg twice per day (n = 30; mean age, 27.7 years) or metformin 500 mg three times per day (n = 30; mean age, 25.9 years) for 12 weeks to compared the effects of each therapy on clinical, metabolic and genetic parameters.
The two groups had no significant differences in mean age, mean height, mean weight or mean BMI at baseline or at the end of the study.
Myoinositol decreased total testosterone (P = .03), modified Ferriman–Gallwey scores (P = .01) and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P < .001) levels compared with metformin, according to the researchers. The gene expression of interleukin-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was downregulated with myoinositol compared with placebo (P = .02).
Myoinositol intake did not significantly affect gene expression of IL-8 or tumor necrosis factor-alpha in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, they wrote.
“Taking myoinositol, compared with metformin, for 12 weeks in PCOS patients with hyperinsulinism and normoinsulinism, had beneficial effects on total testosterone, [modified Ferriman–Gallwey] scores, serum [high-sensitivity C-reactive protein] levels, and gene expression of IL-1, but did not affect other hormonal profiles, [nitric oxide] levels, or gene expression of IL-8 and [tumor necrosis factor-alpha],” the researchers wrote. “Inositol may result in a positive effect on follicular fluid by decreasing the oxidative damage on [follicular fluid] protein, as well as in recovering good quality oocytes.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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