Metabolic and hormonal effects of myo-inositol in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a double-blind trial

To investigate the effects of treatment with Myo-inositol (an insulin sensi- tizing drug), on circulating insulin, glucose tol- erance, ovulation and serum androgens con- centrations in women with the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Forty-two women with PCOS were treated in a double-blind trial with Myo-inositol plus folic acid or folic acid alone as placebo. In the group treated with Myo-inositol the serum total testosterone de- creased from 99.5±7 to 34.8±4.3 ng/dl (placebo group: from 116.8±15 to 109±7.5 ng/dl; P=0.003), and serum free testosterone from 0.85±0.1 to 0.24±0.33 ng/dl (placebo group: from 0.89±0.12 to 0.85±0.13 ng/dl; P=0.01). Plasma triglycerides decreased from 195±20 to 95±17 mg/dl (placebo group: from 166±21 to 148±19 mg/dl; P=0.001). Systolic blood pres- sure decreased from 131±2 to 127±2 mmHg (placebo group: from 128±1 to 130±1 mmHg; P=0.002). Diastolic blood pressure decreased from 88±1 to 82±3 mmHg (placebo group: from 86±1 to 90±1 mmHg; P=0.001). The area under the plasma insulin curve after oral administra- tion of glucose decreased from 8.54±1.149 to 5.535±1.792 μU/ml/min (placebo group: from 8.903±1.276 to 9.1±1.162 μU/ml/min; P=0.03). The index of composite whole body insulin sensitivity (ISIcomp) increased from 2.80±0.35 to 5.05±0.59 mg-2/dl-2 (placebo group: from 3.23±0.48 to 2.81±0.54 mg-2/dl-2; P<0.002). 16 out of 23 women of Myo-inositol group ovulat- ed (4 out of 19 in placebo group). Treatment of PCOS patients with Myo-inositol provided a decreasing of circulating insulin and serum to- tal testosterone as well as an improvement in metabolic factors.