Understanding Inositols: Implications for PCOS and Metabolism

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder and one of the most frequent causes of infertility in women. It affects 5–20% of women of childbearing age. The pathogenesis of PCOS is still not fully understood; however, insulin resistance (IR) is known to have a central role in its pathogenesis. According to a cross-sectional study, IR is present in 75% of lean and 95% of overweight women with PCOS. This IR seems to have something else behind it: an imbalance in the ratio of 2 vital inositols! In the treatment of PCOS, metformin is the gold standard metabolic treatment. However, metformin may induce mild to severe gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. So, an evidence-based and data driven alternative is highly welcome…especially one that could be seen as “natural”. Can inositol, specifically myo—inositol, “reverse” some PCOS metabolic derangements? Can it help normalize cycles? The data may surprise you.