Inositol Research
45 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 8/10
The effectiveness of nutritional supplements in improving polycystic ovary syndrome in women: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Zhao G et al. • Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E (2025)
Chromium, inositol, and Omega-3 were found to be beneficial for improving lipid profile.
- Inositol significantly decreased total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while curcumin was most effective in improving low-density and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
- Chromium, inositol, and Omega-3 were found to be beneficial for improving lipid profile.
- For improving obesity, sex hormone levels, inflammatory factors and oxidative stress indicators of PCOS patients, carnitine, chromium, and soy isoflavones are effective options, respectively.
Comparison of nutritional supplements in improving glycolipid metabolism and endocrine function in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Hu X et al. • PeerJ (2023)
Carnitine was relatively effective in reducing body mass, while chromium, Omega-3, and selenium were beneficial for improving glucose metabolism.
- The network meta-analysis showed that carnitine, inositol, and probiotics reduced body weight and body mass index (BMI) compared to placebo, and carnitine outperformed the other supplements (SUCRAs: 96.04%, 97.73%, respectively).
- Omega-3 lowered fasting blood glucose (FBG) (SUCRAs: 93.53%), and chromium reduced fasting insulin (FINS) (SUCRAs: 72.90%); both were superior to placebo in improving insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), and chromium was more effective than Omega-3 (SUCRAs: 79.99%).
- Selenium was potent in raising the quantitative insulin sensitivity index (QUICKI) (SUCRAs: 87.92%).
Antioxidants and Fertility in Women with Ovarian Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Shang Y et al. • Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) (2024)
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- The results showed that use of antioxidants not only significantly increased the number of retrieved oocytes and high-quality embryo rates but also reduced the dose of gonadotropin, contributing to higher clinical pregnancy rates.
- Appropriate antioxidant treatment should be offered at a low dose according to the patient's age and ovarian reserve.
- This study was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42022359529.Copyright © 2024 The Authors.
Antenatal dietary supplementation with myo-inositol for preventing gestational diabetes
Motuhifonua SK et al. • The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2023)
Evidence from seven studies shows that antenatal dietary supplementation with myo-inositol during pregnancy may reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and preterm birth.
- For the primary neonatal outcomes, only one study measured the risk of a large-for-gestational-age infant and found myo-inositol was associated with both appreciable benefit and harm (RR 1.40, 95% CI 0.65 to 3.02; 1 study, 234 infants; low-certainty evidence).
- Further, myo-inositol may result in little to no difference in caesarean section (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.07; 4 studies, 829 women; low-certainty evidence).
- For the secondary neonatal outcomes, meta-analysis showed no neonatal hypoglycaemia (RR 3.07, 95% CI 0.90 to 10.52; 4 studies; 671 infants; very low-certainty evidence).
Inositol for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis to Inform the 2023 Update of the International Evidence-based PCOS Guidelines
Fitz V et al. • The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (2024)
The evidence supporting the use of inositol in the management of PCOS is limited and inconclusive.
- The evidence supporting the use of inositol in the management of PCOS is limited and inconclusive.
- Clinicians and their patients should consider the uncertainty of the evidence together with individual values and preferences when engaging in shared decision-making regarding the use of inositol for PCOS.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Comparative efficacy and safety of metformin, anti-obesity agents, and myoinositol in improving IVF/ICSI outcomes and reducing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Lin L et al. • Journal of ovarian research (2024)
Metformin and myoinositol may reduce OHSS risk in PCOS patients but did not significantly improve pregnancy outcomes.
- Myoinositol was linked to a shorter gonadotropin duration (SMD = -1.21, 95% CI -2.03 to -0.38) and fewer side effects (OR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.06-0.83) compared to controls.
- Metformin led to lower E2 levels, a higher number of mature oocytes, and increased side effects (SMD = -376.52, 95% CI -610.83 to -142.22; SMD = 2.23, 95% CI 0.36-4.10; OR = 6.85, 95% CI 4.32-10.86) than controls.
- Metformin and myoinositol may reduce OHSS risk in PCOS patients but did not significantly improve pregnancy outcomes.
Inositol is an effective and safe treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Greff D et al. • Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E (2023)
Inositol is an effective and safe treatment in PCOS.
- In patients treated with inositols, the risk (CI: 1.13; 2.85) of having a regular menstrual cycle was found by 1.79 higher than in the case of placebo.
- Inositol increased sex-hormone-binding globulin significantly compared to placebo (MD = 32.06, CI:1.27; 62.85).
- Inositol is an effective and safe treatment in PCOS.
Comparative efficacy of oral insulin sensitizers metformin, thiazolidinediones, inositol, and berberine in improving endocrine and metabolic profiles in women with PCOS: a network meta-analysis
Zhao H et al. • Reproductive health (2021)
Ours is the first study to report that for women with PCOS, myo-inositol combined with D-chiro-inositol and metformin combined with thiazolidinediones appear superior to metformin alone in improving insulin resistance and decreasing total testosterone.
- Compared with metformin, treatment with myo-inositol + D-chiro-inositol was associated with a greater improvement in menstrual frequency (odds ratio 14.70 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.31-93.58]).
- Ours is the first study to report that for women with PCOS, myo-inositol combined with D-chiro-inositol and metformin combined with thiazolidinediones appear superior to metformin alone in improving insulin resistance and decreasing total testosterone.
- Myo-inositol combined with D-chiro-inositol is particularly efficacious in menstrual recovery.
Inositol Nutritional Supplementation for the Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Wei J et al. • Nutrients (2022)
In conclusion, 4 g MI nutritional supplementation per day during early pregnancy may reduce GDM incidence and severity, therefore may be a practical and safe approach for the prevention of GDM.
- Pooled results were expressed as relative risk (RR) or mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI).
- Compared with the control group, 4 g myo-inositol (MI) supplementation per day significantly decreased the incidence of GDM (RR = 0.30, 95% CI (0.18, 0.49), p < 0.00001).
- It also decreased the need of insulin treatment, and reduced the incidence of preterm delivery and neonatal hypoglycemia.
Antioxidants for female subfertility
Showell MG et al. • The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2017)
In this review, there was very low-quality evidence to show that taking an antioxidant may provide benefit for subfertile women, but insufficient evidence to draw any conclusions about adverse events.
- This suggests that among subfertile women with an expected clinical pregnancy rate of 22%, the rate among women using antioxidants would be between 27% and 33%.
- Heterogeneity was moderately high.There was insufficient evidence to determine whether there was a difference between the groups in rates of miscarriage (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.08, P = 0.14, 18 RCTs, 2834 women, I2 = 23%, very low quality evidence).
- This suggests that, among subfertile women with an expected miscarriage rate of 7%, use of antioxidants would be expected to result in a miscarriage rate of between 4% and 7%.
Insulin-sensitising drugs (metformin, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, D-chiro-inositol) for women with polycystic ovary syndrome, oligo amenorrhoea and subfertility
Morley LC et al. • The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2017)
Our updated review suggests that metformin alone may be beneficial over placebo for live birth, although the evidence quality was low.
- Metformin versus placebo or no treatmentThe evidence suggests that metformin may improve live birth rates compared with placebo (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.51, 4 studies, 435 women, I2 = 0%, low-quality evidence).
- There was no clear evidence of a difference in miscarriage rates (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.50 to 2.35, 4 studies, 748 women, I2 = 0%, low-quality evidence).
- However, the combined therapy group had higher rates of clinical pregnancy (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.99, 16 studies, 1529 women, I2 = 33%, moderate-quality evidence) and ovulation (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.28 to 1.92, 21 studies, 1624 women, I2 = 64%, moderate-quality evidence).
Comparison of metformin with inositol versus metformin alone in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Kelly FA et al. • Endocrine (2025)
In this meta-analysis of RCTs, combination therapy was associated with cycle regularization and reduction in hirsutism and LH/FSH ratio compared to metformin monotherapy.
- Differences in acne (p = 0.58), body mass index (p = 0.13), fasting blood glucose (p = 0.07) and HOMA-IR (p = 0.25) were not statistically significant.
- In this meta-analysis of RCTs, combination therapy was associated with cycle regularization and reduction in hirsutism and LH/FSH ratio compared to metformin monotherapy.
- Further studies are needed to clarify the true benefits of the use of inositol in PCOS treatment.
Myo-inositol for PCOS: A systematic review
Unfer V et al. • Gynecological Endocrinology (2017)
Myo-inositol improved ovulation and metabolic parameters in PCOS.
- Improved ovulation rates
- Better insulin sensitivity
- Reduced testosterone levels
Nutrition and bipolar disorder: a systematic review
Gabriel FC et al. • Nutritional neuroscience (2023)
The 27 interventional studies mainly focused on fatty acids, micronutrients and N-acetylcysteine (NAC).
- Systematic review examining CoQ10 efficacy
- Published in Nutritional neuroscience (2023)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Effects of myo-inositol vs. metformin on hormonal and metabolic parameters in women with PCOS: a meta-analysis
Fatima K et al. • Irish journal of medical science (2023)
Our meta-analysis comparing hormonal and metabolic parameters between MET and MI did not show much significant difference, indicating both drugs are equally beneficial in improving metabolic and hormonal parameters in patients with PCOS.
- Our meta-analysis comparing hormonal and metabolic parameters between MET and MI did not show much significant difference, indicating both drugs are equally beneficial in improving metabolic and hormonal parameters in patients with PCOS.
- Published in Irish journal of medical science (2023)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Pharmacotherapy for trichotillomania
Hoffman J et al. • The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2021)
There was insufficient evidence from meta-analysis to confirm or refute the efficacy of any agent or class of medication for the treatment of TTM in adults, children or adolescents.
- Antioxidants versus placebo in adolescents There was little to no difference in treatment response between antioxidant (50%) and placebo groups (25%) after six weeks, based on a single trial of silymarin (RR 2.00, 95% CI 0.28 to 14.20; 8 participants; low-certainty evidence).
- Antipsychotics versus placebo in adults There may be greater treatment response in the antipsychotic group (85%) compared to the placebo group (17%) after 12 weeks, based on a single trial of olanzapine (RR 5.08, 95% CI 1.4 to 18.37; 25 participants; low-certainty evidence).
- Cell signal transducers versus placebo in adults There was little to no difference in treatment response between cell signal transducer (42.1%) and placebo groups (31.6%) after 10 weeks, based on a single trial of inositol (RR 1.33, 95% CI 0.57 to 3.11; 38 participants; low-certainty evidence).
The Role of Nutrient Supplements in Female Infertility: An Umbrella Review and Hierarchical Evidence Synthesis
Pandey C et al. • Nutrients (2024)
The available evidence is insufficient to recommend nutrient supplementation to improve female infertility in women trying to conceive naturally and those utilising MAR.
- The available evidence is insufficient to recommend nutrient supplementation to improve female infertility in women trying to conceive naturally and those utilising MAR.
- However, there is currently no indication that these nutrients pose any risk of significant harm.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Effects of nutrition on metabolic and endocrine outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: an umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials
Moslehi N et al. • Nutrition reviews (2023)
There was no high-certainty evidence that diets alone in women with PCOS improved health or reproductive outcomes.
- There was no high-certainty evidence that diets alone in women with PCOS improved health or reproductive outcomes.
- Supplementation with vitamin D, probiotics/synbiotics, omega-3, inositol, and curcumin showed favorable effects on some metabolic outcomes.
- Probiotics/synbiotics possibly reduces total testosterone, and inositol stimulates ovulation in women with PCOS.
Mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and metabolic alterations in the progression of Alzheimer's disease: A meta-analysis of in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies
Song T et al. • Ageing research reviews (2021)
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- In addition, the hippocampus shows the strongest alterations in most of these metabolites.
- This meta-analysis also illustrates progressive metabolite alterations from MCI to AD.
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Clinician guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders with nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals: The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) Taskforce
Sarris J et al. • The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (2022)
Based on the current data and clinician input, a range of nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals were given either a supportive recommendation or a provisional recommendation across a range of various psychiatric disorders.
- Based on the current data and clinician input, a range of nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals were given either a supportive recommendation or a provisional recommendation across a range of various psychiatric disorders.
- However several had only a weak endorsement for potential use; for a few it was not possible to reach a clear recommendation direction, largely due to mixed study findings; while some other agents showed no obvious therapeutic benefit and were clearly not recommended for use.
- It is the intention of these guidelines to inform psychiatric/medical, and health professional practice globally.