Inositol can help with polycystic ovary

What is inositol?

Inositol is a vitaminoid or pseudovitamin, which means that it is a substance similar to vitamins but that the body can produce it and therefore it is not essential for health to obtain it through food, as is the case with vitamins. However, in some cases it may be indicated to take it as a supplement to treat certain imbalances.

What is inositol used for?

Inositol has many important functions in the body, for example in the areas of fat metabolism and hormone balance. Thus, inositol can be used as a dietary supplement for support the therapy of polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Inositol is formed mainly in the kidneys (about 4 g daily) and in the liver. However, the highest concentrations are found in the brain, where it occurs as an intermediate product in the course of cellular metabolism.

It was discovered that too high or too low an inositol concentration in the brain it can become problematic and is even associated with depression, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety disorders, and brain tumors.

However, when it was investigated whether taking inositol might be helpful for these diseases, it was found that it might help with obsessive-compulsive disorders, anxiety disorders and depression, but not with schizophrenia and alzheimer’s. However, the researchers used very high doses, up to 12 g, which could cause side effects.

What foods have inositol?

Inositol is not only produced in the body itself, but also it is contained in many foods, preferably vegetables:

Grapefruit juice (120 ml): 470 mg inositol Peanut butter (30 g): 91 mg Green beans (100 g): 54 mg Brussels sprouts (100 g): 40 mg Whole wheat bread (25 g): 8.5 mg

inositol properties

Inositol in polycystic ovary syndrome

The main field of application of inositol is the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). It is the most common hormonal disorder in women of childbearing age. Since several studies on inositol therapy of PCOS are already available, mostly with promising results, the use of inositol in this case can be considered safe and effective.

Researchers from England and Australia conducted a review of 10 randomized studies involving a total of 362 PCOS patients. 257 of the women received inositol, 179 a placebo and 60 the drug metformin, a medication used in type 2 diabetes that can improve PCOS symptoms.

It was shown that inositol could regulate menstrual cycles and promote ovulation. Other problems such as obesity, metabolic disorders, high blood pressure or insulin resistance also improved. In some studies 13, inositol even worked better than metformin.

According to a study conducted at the University of Insubria, inositol can improve metabolic and hormonal status and restore ovulation. As a result, inositol was considered a very attractive treatment option.

Improves the quality of eggs and sperm

A study showed that inositol can improve the ability of eggs to be fertilized in the context of in vitro fertilization.

Inositol can also improve sperm quality. According to a randomized, double-blind study, the administration of inositol increased total number and motility of sperm in men with infertility of uncertain cause.

Improves cardiovascular health

Insulin resistance It is a disturbance of glucose metabolism. The cells do not react as they should to insulin and the blood sugar level rises. The consequence is that it increases the risk of gaining weight and developing diabetes, among other problems.

42 PCOS patients participated in a double-blind study on the effects of inositol on insulin resistance, 23 of whom received 4 g inositol and 400 µg folic acid daily; the others only 400 µg of folic acid (placebo group). After 16 weeks, insulin resistance, as well as blood sugar and insulin levels had improved, and fertility could also be increased significantly.

Besides, blood pressure decreased and blood lipid levels also evolved positively. As is well known, all these values ​​are also relevant in cardiovascular diseases, so inositol could reduce the risk of developing them, as confirmed by a study by the Università degli Studi di Milano, which was carried out with women undergoing the menopause (ie, without PCOS).

Relieves the problems of menopause

30 to 50% of women who have PCOS and insulin resistance develop metabolic syndrome at menopause I eat very late. This syndrome is characterized by the onset of obesity, high blood lipid levels, high blood pressure, and increased insulin resistance.

There are indications that inositol is an interesting application in menopausal women with metabolic syndrome, since it re-sensitizes the body’s cells to the effects of insulin. Daily oral intake also improves blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and insulin levels.

How is inositol taken?

In vegetables, inositol is found in the form of phytic acid (inositol-hexaphosphoric acid), which is found in the surface layers and in seedlings of cereals, as well as in legumes and oilseeds. Inositol is released from phytic acid during digestion.

The average diet in European countries only provides 1 g of inositol per day. because it is poor in whole grain products and legumes. It does not help that phytic acid is still said to be an antinutrient that can inhibit the absorption of minerals such as zinc or iron in the intestine, when the truth is that a diet with the right amount of phytic acid does not cause deficiencies and produces many benefits.

Benefits of inositol as a dietary supplement

There are different forms of inositol. There are nine isomers of inositol. The term isomer means that it has the same chemical composition but the molecule has a different spatial arrangement of atoms. The most important of these isomers is called myo-inositol, which is often used as a synonym for inositol.

In studies on the properties of inositol, supplements are used because they allow an exact dosage and guarantee high bioavailability.

In PCOS studies, the usual doses were 2 g of inositol twice daily. In addition, the participants took 200 µg of folic acid twice a day.

In any case, one can start with the lowest dose specified by the manufacturer and increase it if an effect has not yet been seen after three months.

Does inositol have side effects?

Inositol is usually well tolerated. According to a review carried out at the Agunco Obstetrics and Gynecology Center in Rome, even at a very high dose of 12 g per day it causes at most flatulence or diarrhea. Few cases of intolerances are known.

Research on the effects of inositol in depression or cardiovascular diseases is still in its infancy, so the side effect situation in these application areas is still limited. Moreover, it is not recommended during pregnancy.

Inositol is considered safe in the adjunctive treatment of PCOS.

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