Croze, M. L.; Soulage, C. O. (October 2013). "Potential role and therapeutic interests of myo-inositol in metabolic diseases". Biochimie. 95 (10): 1811–1827. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2013.05.011. PMID 23764390. Inositols have been suggested as a first-line treatment for PCOS. Have you heard about the numerous benefits of inositols for PCOS but not sure what kind to take? This article summarizes the differences between the two main types of inositols, MYO and d-chiro inositol (DCI) including what they are and what they do, their benefits, and any potential side effects to look for. What are Inositols?

In their randomized trial, Benelli and colleagues saw a statistically significant reduction of LH, free testosterone, fasting insulin, and HOMA index only in the group of young PCOS women treated with the combined therapy of MYO plus DCI. Many meta-analyses now show that inositol supplements are as effective as metformin for a range of biomarkers. These include insulin sensitization, testosterone levels, body mass index, and menstrual frequency [ 46, 47]. M.J., et al., Effects of d-chiro-inositol in lean women with the polycystic ovary syndrome. Endocr Pract, 2002. 8(6): p. 417-23. Mendoza N, Perez L, Simoncini T, Genazzani A. Inositol supplementation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection : a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Reprod Biomed Online. 2017;35:529–35.

E., P. Rizzo, and V. Benedetto, Insulin sensitiser agents alone and in co-treatment with r-FSH for ovulation induction in PCOS women. Gynecol Endocrinol, 2010. 26(4): p. 275-80. V., et al., Effects of myo-inositol in women with P14OS: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Gynecol Endocrinol, 2012. 28(7): p. 509-15.

Unfer V, Carlomagno G, Rizzo P, Raffone E, Roseff S. Myo-inositol rather than D-chiro-inositol is able to improve oocyte quality in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles: a prospective, controlled, randomized trial. Eur Rev Med Pharm Sci. 2011;15:452–7.Pacchiarotti A, Carlomagno G, Antonini G, Pacchairotti A. Effect of myo-inositol and melatonin versus myo-inositol, in a randomized controlled trial, for improving in vitro fertilization of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2016;32:69–73. No. There is no research to show the combined amount of inositol in Ovasitol will negatively affect egg quality. There is research to show that egg quality worsens when women with PCOS take very high amounts of DCI (600mg or more daily). Ovasitol has only 50 mg of DCI per dose. If anything, studies (see above) have shown that the unique 40:1 ratio of MYO to DCI actually improves egg quality better than MYO alone. Side Effects Taking myo-inositol alone is the cheapest way to supplement inositol. The benefits of myo-inositol alone are well-proven, especially for fertility.