6 Things to Know About Taking Inositol for PCOS (2024)

Treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with vitamin-like substances called inositols—a type of sugar in the body—has shown promising results. They are used to help people with PCOS control blood sugar and increase their chances of becoming pregnant.

Read on to learn more about how taking inositols can help treat PCOS.

Inositol Improves Insulin Resistance

Inositols are a kind of sugar the body makes. They help balance chemicals that control your blood sugar and fertility. They also affect your metabolism, which is the process of turning the food you eat into energy.

Many people with PCOS are insulin-resistant. Their bodies make insulin but aren't able to use it effectively. This increases the risk of diabetes, infertility, obesity, and high cholesterol.

Inositols make molecules involved in the body's response to insulin. Researchers say inositols may be part of the body's messaging system when the insulin signaling system fails.

Inositols From Food and Supplements

You can get inositols by eating healthy foods such as:

• Fruits: Cantaloupe, grapefruit, other citrus fruits
• Beans: Lima, navy
• Grains: Brown rice, whole wheat
• Nuts: Almonds, walnuts

You can also buy inositol food supplements, pills, or powders you mix with water. Inositol supplements are generally well-tolerated.

Inositols MI and DCI Benefits For PCOS

There are nine forms of inositol, but the two that have the most significant impact on PCOS are myo-inositol (MI) and D-chiro-inositol(DCI). Typically, MI is converted to DCI.

MI/DCI Supplements

It is important to note that MI: DCI ratios vary in different body tissues, but in the ovary, healthy females have a ratio of approximately 100:1. PCOS patients tend to have a much higher level of DCI and very low levels of MI, leading to an abnormally low MI: DCI ratio of 0.2:1.

Combined therapy with MI and DCI is more effective than taking either inositol alone. Specifically, research shows a 40:1 MI/DCI ratio is best for restarting ovulation in people with PCOS.

MI and DCI in a 40:1 ratio may be more effective than metformin. One study found people with PCOS who took the 40:1 MI/DCI supplement had significantly better ovulation and pregnancy rates (46.7% vs. 11.2%) than those who did not take the supplement.

Two grams twice a day is currently considered the optimal inositol dosage for PCOS. The best time to take inositol is just before eating.

MI to DCI and Fertility

PCOS is a common cause of infertility. Up to 80% of people with PCOS experience fertility challenges.

People with PCOS have an imbalance of MI to DCI in their ovaries. This can affect:

• Periods: People with PCOS can have irregular periods or no periods at all. Treatment with inositols has been shown to help improve insulin sensitivity and reduce male hormone levels in females with PCOS. This helps restore periods.
• Ovulation: People with PCOS might not ovulate every month or at all. Researchers have linked this to having too little MI and too much DCI in the ovaries.
• Egg quality: Eggs can't mature unless there is a high enough level of MI in the follicular fluid. Females with PCOS have been shown to produce less mature eggs than females without the disorder. Researchers have linked this to having too little MI in the follicular fluid surrounding the eggs within the ovaries.

Inositols can help restore ovulation and improve oocyte (immature egg) quality. But researchers say taking the correct formulation is essential because high doses of DCI negatively affect oocytes and prevent the body from absorbing MI.

MI Used to Treat Gestational Diabetes

People with PCOS have an increased risk of gestational diabetes (GD), which is diabetes that develops during pregnancy. One study concluded that people with PCOS have a two-fold higher risk of developing GD than those without PCOS.

Taking MI supplements lowers blood sugar levels and GD risk in people with PCOS. Multiple studies found GD was less common in pregnant females with PCOS who took MI than those who did not take the supplement.

Side Effects and Cautions

You may feel tempted to try using inositol supplements on your own. That's not a good idea. Taking too much DCI, for example, can lower your estrogen levels and increase male hormone levels.

Estrogen has several benefits, like protecting bones and preventing breast cancer. Increasing testosterone levels in females already at risk of infertility also isn't wise.

Additionally, inositol for PCOS has been linked to hair loss as well as excessive hair growth. Some people with PCOS also experience acne, which can be treated with other medications.

If your healthcare provider agrees and you decide to try inositols, you may need to be extra careful of what you eat and drink. Some artificial sugars and sugar alcohols weaken the benefits of these supplements.

Dosing Variations

Some food supplement companies continue to sell supplements with varying MI/DCI ratios. One review found that the MI to DCI ratio in PCOS products can range from as little as .04-to-1 to as high as 104-to-1. Some supplements contain only DCI, while others contain additional substances such as vitamins and artificial sugars. There's no evidence to show these ingredients help.

Summary

Inositols are sugars the body makes that help regulate insulin and cholesterol levels. Two types of inositols, MI and DCI, help treat PCOS.

You can get inositols by eating certain foods or taking food supplements. If you're struggling with infertility, a 40 to 1 MI to DCI supplement ratio appears to be the most helpful. This ratio has been shown to help lower insulin levels and improve ovulation and pregnancy rates for those with PCOS.