6 Benefits of Inositol for PCOS

There are many benefits of inositol for PCOS. Of those with PCOS 50-70% have insulin resistance and resulting elevated insulin levels, which affect the body’s ability to properly manage blood sugar (1).

This drives many of the symptoms seen in PCOS like irregular periods, polycystic ovaries, acne, elevated androgens like testosterone, and hirsutism (or unwanted hair growth).

Inositol is a vitamin B-like compound shown to help to improve insulin sensitivity, which has further downstream benefits listed below.

As always, I’m giving away my best hormone tips here, answering your burning questions, and letting you in on the what the science says.

I’m here to help you have better periods, symptomless cycles, and optimize fertility (whether that’s now or in the future) all through simple nutrition and lifestyle shifts that feel simple, doable, and empowering (not overwhelming).

This is the kind of insider info I share with all of my Hormone Magic 1:1 coaching clients and students in my signature program, Heal Your Period.

I’m so passionate about sharing this info with anyone on a hormone healing journey, so I’m letting you in with all the info here!

So, let’s dive in into it!

PCOS ARTICLES

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There is so much noise and confusion around nutrition and lifestyle shifts to manage PCOS with clarity and ease, which is why I’m so passionate about getting this info into your hands!

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How can inositol help PCOS?

Here are 6 benefits of inositol for PCOS:

1. Improve Insulin Sensitivity

Inositol can help to improve insulin sensitivity in those with PCOS and has been used to help correct insulin resistance. A study included 50 anovulatory (not ovulating) PCOS patients with insulin resistance found myo-inositol supplementation to reduce insulin resistance and improve ovarian activity (2). Another study looking analyzing nine studies found a significant decrease in fasting insulin levels after myo-inositol supplementation in those with PCOS (3). D-chiro-inositol has also been shown to increase insulin sensitivity in those with PCOS (4). These studies show that inositol helps to improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control in those with PCOS.

2. Reduce Triglyceride Levels

Inositol can help to reduce triglyceride levels in those with PCOS. Triglycerides are fatty acids and how we store fat in the body. When the body cannot use sugar in the blood right away for energy or store it in the muscles or liver for energy later it will convert the blood sugar, or glucose, into triglycerides for storage. If someone has trouble with blood sugar management or insulin resistance, as often seen in PCOS, then triglyceride levels could be elevated. D-chiro-inositol has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and as a result help to reduce plasma triglyceride levels (4).

3. Improve Egg Quality

Inositol may help to improve egg quality in those with PCOS. Those with PCOS may experience the lack of ovulation or irregular periods that result from irregular ovulation. Myo-inositol may help to improve the quality of embryos and reduce unsuitable eggs in infertile patients with PCOS undergoing induction for IVF (5).

4. Boost ovulation & fertility

Inositol may help to boost ovulation and thereby overall fertility in those with PCOS. Lack of ovulation can often be experienced with PCOS. Ovulation is absolutely necessary for fertility, conception, and pregnancy. In the study of 50 anovulatory PCOS patients with insulin resistance, after myo-inositol treatment ovulation occurred in 29 participants, or 61%. Of these people, 11 became pregnant (2). Another study found a positive effect on ovarian function with a combination of inositol, folic acid, and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) in those with PCOS with or without insulin resistance (6).

5. Prevent Gestational Diabetes (GDM)

Inositol may help to prevent gestational diabetes in those at greater risk of developing the condition, like those with PCOS. Gestational diabetes is uncontrolled blood sugar during pregnancy. Those with PCOS run a greater risk of developing gestational diabetes. Inositol help to improve insulin sensitivity and supplementation has been shown to reduce the incidence of GDM in those at high risk for developing it, like those with PCOS. Three studies show that myo-inositol helps to prevent GDM (7, 8, 9).

6. Lower Testosterone Levels

Inositol may help to lower testosterone levels in those with PCOS. Due to inositol’s effect on improving insulin resistance and blood sugar control it helps to reduce testosterone levels (1). Elevated insulin levels tell the ovaries to produce more testosterone, which is at the root of PCOS symptoms like acne, hair loss, and hirsutism.

Forms of Inositol

There are two main forms of inositol:

d-chiro-inositol
myo-inositol

One study states that both forms of inositol were effective to improve ovulation and metabolism in those with PCOS, with myo-inositol having the most effect on the metabolic profile (like blood sugar, insulin, and cholesterol levels) and d-chiro-inositol reducing high levels of androgens better (10).

Work with your healthcare provider for the forms and amounts that are right for you and your symptoms.

final thoughts

Inositol can help to improve insulin resistance and symptoms associated with PCOS.

While we chatted through the different ways inositol can help with PCOS, remember that every body is unique and it’s about determine what works best for your body.

Remember: simple shifts build to make a big impact over time!

Managing your PCOS with clarity and ease are possible for you.

-Krista

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If you’re looking for specific and individualized support for PCOS, period problems, endometriosis, stopping birth control, and/or fertility I’m your person! I offer private coaching and a hormone mini package with the at-home DUTCH hormone test. I have select spaces available each month and would love to support your hormone healing journey!