Table 3.
Biochemical and clinical findings related to hyperandrogenism and metabolism.
| Ref | Treatment | Testosterone (ng/dL) | Androstenedione (ng/mL) | Free testosterone (ng/dL) | Insulin (µU/mL) | HOMA index | OGTTa | SHBG (nmol/L) | General findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [20]c | Myo-Ins versus FA |
54.8 ± 6.2 versus 55.2 ± 9.1 |
1.70 ± 0.29 versus 1.91 ± 0.24 |
NA | 6.5 ± 1.1∗∗∗§§§
versus 11.3 ± 1.1 |
1.4 ± 0.3∗∗§§
versus 2.5 ± 0.7 |
Myo-Ins improved glucose tolerance | NA | Myo-Ins significantly reduced LH, PRL, insulin levels, and LH/FSH ratio and significantly improved insulin sensitivity and menstrual cyclicity was restored in amenorrheic and oligomenorrheic subjects. |
|
| |||||||||
| [21]c | Myo-Ins versus FA |
34.8 ± 4.3§§
versus 109.0 ± 7.5 |
1.96 ± 0.26 versus 3.06 ± 0.41 |
0.24 ± 0.03§§
versus 0.85 ± 0.13 |
26.0 ± 8.0 versus 38.0 ± 7.0 |
NA | Myo-Ins improved glucose tolerance | 198.0 ± 24.0 versus 163.0 ± 26.0 |
Myo-Ins increased insulin sensitivity and improved glucose tolerance and insulin release. There was a significant reduction in total and free T. There was a decrement in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Plasma triglycerides and total cholesterol concentration decreased. |
|
| |||||||||
| [10]d | Myo-Ins versus placebo |
101.0 (81–121)§
versus 121.0 (101–141) |
Decreased in Myo-Ins group | NA | No significant difference | NA | No significant difference | 36.5§
versus 26.3 |
Myo-Ins showed a beneficial effect in improving ovarian function in PCOS women with oligomenorrhea. |
|
| |||||||||
| [11]d | Myo-Ins versus FA |
95.0 (72–115) versus 118.0 (98–138) |
Decreased in Myo-Ins group | NA | 16.8 versus 17.3 |
NA | No significant difference | 35.9§
versus 25.8 |
Myo-Ins treatment showed a beneficial effect in improving ovarian function, anthropometric measures, and lipid profile. |
|
| |||||||||
| [22] | Myo-Ins + D-chiro-Ins versus Myo-Ins |
32.7 ± 10.0∗∗
versus 40.1 ± 9.5∗∗ |
1.94 ± 0.15∗∗
versus 1.98 ± 0.19∗∗ |
0.23 ± 0.02∗∗
versus 0.24 ± 0.03∗∗ |
9.2 ± 2.1∗∗
versus 9.6 ± 1.9∗∗ |
1.5 ± 0.28∗∗
versus 1.9 ± 2.1∗∗ |
Myo-Ins + D-chiro-Ins improved glucose tolerance | 208 ± 20∗
versus 202 ± 27∗ |
Both treatments, Myo-Ins + D-chiro-Ins, or Myo-Ins alone normalized the metabolic parameters and restored ovulation in overweight PCOS women. At the end of the treatment both the fasting insulin and glucose serum concentration level were significantly reduced. However, compared to Myo-Ins alone, the combined treatment has shown significant changes on the metabolic profile after only 12 weeks. |
|
| |||||||||
| [23] | Myo-Ins + D-chiro-Ins versus Myo-Ins |
NA | 4.01 ± 1.7 versus 3.12 ± 2.23 |
0.62 ± 0.15∗
versus 0.83 ± 0.2 |
10.7 ± 5.5∗∗∗
versus 17.8 ± 8.2 |
1.97 ± 1.48∗
versus 2.8 ± 1.4 |
NA | 35.85 ± 24.3∗
versus 21.36 ± 7.57 |
Myo-Ins + D-chiro-Ins decreased significantly LH, free T levels, HOMA index, and fasting insulin. The combined treatment significantly increased E2 and SHBG. No relevant side effects were recorded. Therefore, the combined treatment, Myo-Ins + D-chiro-Ins, is effective in improving endocrine and metabolic parameters in young obese PCOS women. |
Myo-Ins, myo-inositol; D-chiro-Ins, D-chiro-inositol; FA, folic acid; PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome; PRL, prolactin; E2, oestradiol; A, androstenedione; 17OHP, 17-hydroxyprogesterone; T, testosterone; P, progesterone; OGTT, oral glucose tolerance; BMI, body mass index; LH, luteinizing hormone; FSH, follicle stimulating hormone; DHEAS, dehydroepiandrosterone; SHBG, sex hormone binding globulin; AUC, area under the curve of OGTT; VLDL, very-low-density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; WHR, waist-to-hip ratio.
aOGTT performed sampling 15 minutes before and 30, 60, 90, 120, and 240 minutes after the oral assumption of 75 g of glucose.
Values are mean ± SD. cValues are mean ± SEM. dValues are mean (CIs), confidence intervals (95%). A brief description is inserted in the table when numerical data are not available in the original article. The units were made uniform to show more comparable results.
p value: ≤0.05§; ≤0.01§§; ≤0.001§§§: comparison posttreatment experimental group versus control.
p value: ≤0.05∗; ≤0.01∗∗; ≤0.001∗∗∗: comparison posttreatment with respect to baseline. Data at baseline are not shown in the table.