If you're like me and living with PCOS, you've probably explored various supplements to help manage your symptoms. Inositol is the latest sensation on social media, and some doctors are recommending it to their patients. Inositol-based supplements are becoming increasingly popular on the market!
But before you decide if this is the right supplement for you, let's explore what inositol—formerly known as a vitamin—is and how it works.
What is Inositol?
Inositol was once classified as a vitamin and known as Vitamin B7. The body partially synthesizes it from glucose (a simple sugar).
Inositol comes in nine different forms, with myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol being the most commonly found in supplements. These two forms are essential components of our cell membranes and play a crucial role in maintaining our health.
The Role of Inositol in Our Body
Inositol is present in all our tissues, especially in the nervous tissue (brain), heart, and liver.
This molecule is also involved in regulating cell growth and affects neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in our nerves) such as serotonin, dopamine, and glutamine. As a result, it plays a role in regulating our mood and energy levels.
Additionally, inositol is important for carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (their transformation and elimination by the body). This impacts cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure.
Inositol can be found in certain foods, such as:
-
Beef heart;
-
Liver;
-
Legumes (lentils, white/red beans, chickpeas, etc.);
-
Whole grains;
-
Nuts;
-
Melons;
-
Citrus fruits (lemons, oranges, etc.);
-
Beans;
-
Raisins;
-
Cabbage.
It’s worth noting that breast milk is a major source of inositol for newborns.
What are the Benefits of Inositol?
As mentioned earlier, inositol helps synthesize neurotransmitters responsible for mood and energy levels, contributing to mental balance. It may also help alleviate anxiety, depression, premenstrual syndrome, and certain eating disorders.
Inositol could promote better cholesterol regulation, particularly by helping to eliminate arterial plaque, which is responsible for most cardiovascular issues.
Moreover, it might help with insulin resistance and therefore improve diabetes by enhancing cells’ sensitivity to insulin. This could also aid in weight loss for those who are overweight (1).
In combination with iodine, inositol supports the proper functioning of the thyroid, pituitary gland, and pancreas, thereby aiding in comprehensive hormonal regulation.
Finally, inositol and its cofactors may improve fertility by being essential for oocyte (future egg cells) maturation. Myo-inositol contributes to the production of a hormone crucial for oocyte maturation: FSH.
Inositol and PCOS: What are the Benefits?
The balance between D-chiro-inositol (DCI) and myo-inositol (MI) synthesis is directly related to blood sugar management through hormones produced by the pancreas (insulin, which lowers blood glucose levels, and glucagon, which has the opposite effect).
Insulin targets the liver, fat tissue (for fat storage), and muscles. Each of these targets requires a specific inositol ratio to function properly. When there is an imbalance between DCI and MI, insulin resistance is more likely, leading to metabolic disorders associated with excessive insulin production.
People who are overweight or have type 2 diabetes often experience increased urinary excretion of inositols. This phenomenon is also observed in women with PCOS, leading to a deficiency that affects ovarian fertility mechanisms (3).
To better understand how inositol can improve PCOS symptoms, let's review the "normal" menstrual cycle, particularly ovulation.
Ovulatory Cycle and Inositol
The menstrual cycle begins with the start of menstruation. Once the bleeding stops, the follicles (small sacs containing future egg cells) grow under the influence of oestrogen and a hormone called FSH. During ovulation, one of these sacs becomes dominant due to a surge in the hormone LH, and it ruptures to release the egg, which then travels to the uterus awaiting potential fertilization.
This is the ideal scenario of the menstrual cycle. In the case of PCOS, FSH levels are often insufficient, and LH levels are too high, causing rapid follicle growth that halts before maturity. This results in many small immature follicles on the ovaries' surface, creating the polycystic appearance seen in pelvic ultrasounds of women with PCOS.
So, how does inositol affect the ovaries? Inositol acts as an insulin messenger for ovarian cells. Two specific forms of inositol are particularly involved: myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol. In PCOS, there's an increase in D-chiro-inositol in the follicles at the expense of myo-inositol. This increase in D-chiro-inositol leads to higher production of male hormones, disrupting ovulation (4).
Some studies suggest that proper dosing of DCI may improve insulin levels and androgen levels in women with PCOS, even those who are not overweight (5).
It may also optimize metabolic markers, including lipid markers (cholesterol, triglycerides) and cardiovascular indicators in a broader group of women with PCOS (6).
However, excessive D-chiro-inositol could disrupt the production of myo-inositol, which is a key messenger of FSH, necessary for healthy ovulation.
Approximately 70% of women with PCOS have a metabolic disorder (which helps convert and eliminate food into energy) due to insulin resistance. Alongside dietary measures (low glycaemic index foods), taking myo-inositol could improve cells' insulin sensitivity, helping better manage blood sugar levels (8). Lowering insulin levels also reduces excess male hormones produced by the ovaries, helping to restore the menstrual cycle balance.
According to a 2015 study, 88% of women with PCOS who took inositol supplements regained regular menstrual cycles after at least three months. Of these women, 70% returned to a normal cycle and became spontaneously pregnant mostly due to this molecule (9).
Inositol and Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
PCOS is often a factor in infertility for women affected by it. Sometimes, the desire for pregnancy is not fulfilled by taking medication (particularly antidiabetics), and the couple is referred to an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) pathway with or without in vitro fertilization (IVF).
The ART process involves several steps, the first being ovarian stimulation, where high doses of gonadotropin hormones, including FSH, are injected to stimulate the growth of as many follicles as possible, hoping that several will be of good enough quality for fertilization.
Clinical trials have shown that inositol supplementation in the three months before ovarian stimulation significantly improves hormonal response, reducing the required dose of FSH for optimal follicle development and oestrogen levels on the day of ovulation induction. This improved hormonal response reduces the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation and decreases the number of cancelled cycles (10).
Inositol supplementation has also been associated with an increase in the number of harvested eggs and a significant improvement in their quality, boosting the chances of conception. For women with PCOS undergoing IVF, studies have similarly shown better quality eggs, better-developed embryos, and higher implantation success rates (11).
Inositol and Acne
If you suffer from hormonal acne related to your PCOS, it’s likely because your body produces too many male hormones (including testosterone), which thicken the skin and encourage sebum production (leading to clogged pores) and increase inflammatory responses linked to insulin resistance (12). This combination creates our worst enemies: ZITS.
So, what about inositol's effect on hormonal acne? So far, only one study has focused on the effects of inositol on acne (Zacchè et al., 2009, 19551544). In this study, half of the women with PCOS who participated saw their moderate to severe acne disappear after six months.
As previously mentioned, taking combined forms of inositol (MI and DCI) promotes better regulation of male hormones and reduces insulin resistance, positively impacting chronic inflammation. Since these three factors contribute to acne, it’s reasonable to assume that inositol can improve your skin!
Inositol and Hirsutism
Like acne, hirsutism in PCOS is caused by elevated male hormones produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands.
Hirsutism is characterized by excessive hair growth in areas not typically affected in women, such as the face (cheeks, chin), chest, and below the navel.
Studies on inositol and hirsutism have shown mixed results: some women with mild hirsutism saw improvement after six months of supplementation (13), while those with more severe cases saw no improvement (14).
However, as inositol helps improve other PCOS symptoms, it could positively affect hair growth by reducing male hormone production and insulin resistance.
So, is inositol a miracle remedy for PCOS?
Yes and no.
Let me clarify: as it stands, no large-scale study has definitively confirmed the long-term benefits of inositol for managing PCOS.
Moreover, taking this supplement alone cannot replace the tangible benefits that come from making sustainable lifestyle changes: following an anti-inflammatory, low-sugar diet, getting quality sleep, engaging in suitable physical activity, and supporting your psycho-emotional balance.
As the name suggests, inositol is a dietary supplement, meant to complement a diet tailored to you and your specific type of PCOS.
If you continue consuming a high-fat, high-sugar diet while taking inositol, it’s unlikely to be particularly effective...
Nevertheless, inositol is one of the most comprehensive supplements available in terms of its overall effects on several PCOS-related symptoms, and it’s also one of the most extensively researched. It would be a pity to overlook such a remarkable molecule!
In summary, inositol:
-
Aids in better blood sugar management;
-
Helps combat bad cholesterol;
-
Improves ovulation quality;
-
Supports better mood regulation;
-
Reduces excess male hormones produced by the ovaries.
The OVASTART Supplement for PCOS
**OVASTART** from SOVA is a dietary supplement containing Myo-Inositol, Quatrefolic® (Vitamin B9), Vitamin B6, and Zinc, designed to support hormonal and menstrual health by promoting hormone regulation and balance.
This supplement is ideal if you suffer from: irregular periods, PMS, hormonal acne, hirsutism, chronic fatigue, and can be used as part of an assisted reproductive technology (ART) journey or alongside medical treatment for PCOS. For more information, feel free to visit the product page!
Références scientifiques
