Dealing with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) can be exhausting. There are so many symptoms, different types of PCOS, and there is no cure-all pill! As more research has gone into finding treatments and soothing symptoms, it’s hard to keep track of all of the supplements out there. One popular supplement that has been on the rise is inositol! From doctors to dieticians, many have recommended the use of Inositol. As the popularity of Inositol increases within the PCOS community, it is important to educate ourselves on what inositol is!
What is PCOS?
Before we get into the specifics of inositol, let's explore what PCOS is. PCOS is a common hormonal condition that affects individuals with a female reproductive system at reproductive age. It can cause hormonal imbalances, excess androgen levels, cysts in ovaries, irregular periods, infertility, etc. It is a chronic condition that has no cure, and the cause of PCOS is unclear[1]. Factors that might play a role in the cause include insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation, a family history of PCOS, excess androgens, and other metabolic disorders [2]. Common symptoms are irregular periods, acne, excessive hair on the face or body, weight gain, depression, hair thinning, etc[1]. Although there is no cure, there are treatments and supplements that can improve symptoms with inositol being one of them.
What is Inositol?
Inositol is a natural sugar that your body produces. It is an isomer of glucose that is also present in common foods such as meat, fruit, beans, grains, etc[3]. It is frequently called vitamin B8, although it is not a vitamin. Inositol comes in different isomer forms. The isomer myo-inositol is the most common form in mammals. Other useful isomers are D-chiro-inositol and inositol hexaphosphate. Supplements for PCOS either have just myo-inositol or a mix of both myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol. Inositol has a role in many important functions such as modulating interactions between neurotransmitters, cell-signaling proteins, development of cell membranes, an effect on insulin signaling pathways, etc[4].
Taking inositol as a supplement has been researched to show many improvements in important cellular functions. In a typical American diet, about 1 gram of Inositol is consumed per day, however, supplementing inositol has shown improvement in people with PCOS[3]. As it involves chemical messengers and insulin, inositol has been studied as an insulin-sensitizing agent, and a pretreatment before IVF for people with PCOS[5].
How Does it Work? How Does it Aid in PCOS Symptoms?
Insulin resistance PCOS is one of the most common types of PCOS. Insulin resistance occurs when cells (and the receptors) don’t respond to insulin, thus glucose can’t be taken up by cells, resulting in excessive sugar in the blood. The pancreas will try to fix this and produce more insulin until it can’t anymore[6]. As a result, this can drive excessive ovarian androgen production, and contribute to the many symptoms that individuals with PCOS endure, such as infertility, hyperandrogenism, hirsutism(excessive hair), obesity, etc.[7].
In the body, myo-inositol is present in tissues with large amounts of glucose such as the heart, brain, and ovaries, and is important for insulin signaling as it makes up many secondary messengers in response to insulin. D-chiro-inositol is in tissues that require glucose storage like the liver and muscles. With insulin resistance, the increased glucose levels decrease the absorption of myo-inositol and impair the conversion of myo-inositol to D-chiro-inositol in the tissues. Thus, this negatively impacts many pathways in our bodies[8].
These sugars are important in the insulin and glucose pathways that regulate our body and aid in combatting insulin resistance[8]. In turn by combatting insulin resistance, many individuals are able to treat their PCOS symptoms.
What are the Benefits?
There are many benefits of taking inositol[3]:
acts as an insulin-sensitizing agent to improve many of the symptoms of PCOS.
improves blood sugar
lowers triglyceride levels
reduces blood pressure
promotes ovulation
May increase pregnancy rates
May also help balance important hormones in your brain such as serotonin and dopamine.
Inositol is being studied for not only PCOS but many metabolic disorders and anxiety disorders.
How can I get it?
Inositol is sold in powder forms and capsules. Many brands sell inositol in either the myo-inositol only form or a mix of d-chiro-inositol and myo-inositol. In many cases, inositol is used as part of a treatment plan. Remember to consult with a healthcare professional before taking any supplements!
References:
World Health Organization. (2023, June 28). Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/polycystic-ovary-syndrome
Mayo Clinic. (2022, September 8). Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/symptoms-causes/syc-20353439
Cleveland Clinic Medical Professional. (2023, June 8). What is inositol?. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/25173-inositol
Smith, F. A., & Mischoulon, D. (2008). Natural medications in psychiatry. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry, 721–730. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-04743-2.50054-8
Mascarenhas, M., & Balen, A. H. (2020). Treatment update for anovulation and subfertility in polycystic ovary syndrome. Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research, 12, 53–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coemr.2020.03.003
Mayo Clinic. (2022, August 18). What is insulin resistance? A Mayo Clinic expert explains. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obesity/multimedia/vid-20536756#:~:text=With%20insulin%20resistance%2C%20the%20cells,large%20amounts%20of%20insulin%20anymore
Purwar, A., & Nagpure, S. (2022, October 16). Insulin resistance in polycystic ovarian syndrome. Cureus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9665922/
DiNicolantonio, J. J., & H O’Keefe, J. (2022, March). Myo-inositol for insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome and gestational diabetes. Open heart. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8896029/
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