Can I take myo-inositol during my period? Yes. Myo-inositol should be taken daily for the duration of treatment. It is suitable to use during your period. What are some Ovasitol alternatives? Ovasitol by Theralogix is the market leader in PCOS inositol supplements. Inofolic Combi by LOLI Pharma is a suitable alternative.
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Who should take myo-inositol for fertility?
Who should take Myo-inositol for fertility? Women with insulin-resistant PCOS. Combined with folic acid helps them ovulate and return to a more regular menstrual cycle. Myo-inositol does not have the same effect on women with normal insulin levels and PCOS.
Are inositol supplements safe to take?
D-chiro-inositol, inositol hexaphosphate (often referred to as "IP6"), and the compound myo-inositol are the most widely used inositol supplements. They are generally considered safe if taken appropriately. This article discusses the potential health benefits and uses of inositol.
Should you take inositol for PCOS?
Lindsey Waldman, MD, RD, is a board-certified pediatrician and pediatric endocrinologist. Inositol is showing promise as a primary treatment for all women with PCOS due to its ability to improve metabolic and reproductive aspects. Here’s what to know, but remember to speak to your doctor before taking any supplements. 1
Does myo-inositol improve egg quality in women with PCOS?
Combined with folic acid helps them ovulate and return to a more regular menstrual cycle. Myo-inositol does not have the same effect on women with normal insulin levels and PCOS. I’ve heard of studies that say Myo-inositol improved egg quality in women.
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Can you take inositol during periods?
Conclusion. Myo-inositol and d-chiro-inositol in combination (3.6:1 ratio) are effective in regularizing menstrual cycles and improving insulin resistance.
When do you take myo-inositol in cycle?
Specifically, research shows a 40:1 MI/DCI ratio is best for restarting ovulation in people with PCOS. 8 Two grams, twice a day, is currently considered the optimal inositol for PCOS dosage. The best time to take inositol is just before eating.
Is inositol good for heavy periods?
Inositol has also been shown to support menstrual cycle regularity through its interactions with neurotransmitters and hormones. A randomized clinical trial concluded that MI is helpful for improving ovulatory function in women with irregular periods.
Should you take myo-inositol if you don't have PCOS?
If you're someone without PCOS and without insulin resistance, there's no evidence, so far, that inositols will boost fertility in the context of unassisted reproduction — and any evidence that they positively affect outcomes in assisted reproduction should be considered preliminary.
Who should not take myo-inositol?
There is, however, moderate evidence that this supplement may have beneficial effects on IVF outcomes in women with classical polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This, of course, means that myo-inositol should not be used by every female trying to conceive but only by women with classical PCOS phenotype.
When should I stop taking inositol?
In addition, it's unclear whether inositol supplements are safe for long-term use. In most studies, inositol supplements were only taken for a year or less. As with any supplement, talk to your doctor before taking inositol. Inositol supplements are associated with very few and only mild adverse effects.
How does inositol work for periods?
Myo-inositol (MI) increases insulin sensitivity, decreases hyperandrogenism and improves the menstrual cycle. Its effect during assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has been studied by many authors.
Does myo-inositol cause weight gain?
Myo-inositol is a specific form of inositol. In a randomized study in 92 women with PCOS, half were given 4 grams of myo-inositol per day for 14 weeks. While those in the inositol group lost weight, those in the placebo group gained weight ( 44 ).
What happens when you take too much myo-inositol?
Inositol is generally considered safe in adults. Side effects, if any, tend to be mild and may include nausea, stomach pain, tiredness, headache, and dizziness. Most side effects occur with doses greater than 12 grams per day. The metabolic effects of inositol may not be appropriate for everyone.
How quickly does inositol work for weight loss?
Since inositol is a water-soluble nutrient, this vitamin will start exerting its effects quickly and with high bioavailability. Your body needs time to adapt to increased vitamin levels, however, so it may be necessary to use inositol repeatedly over the course of 7-10 days to start noticing results.
How fast does myo-inositol work?
How long does myo-inositol take to work? / How long does it take for myo-inositol to regulate your period? Studies show that the benefits of myo-inositol supplements can be seen within 3 months. 6 months of treatment is better though [31].
Does myo-inositol make you ovulate?
Myo-inositol is a supplement that can increase the rate of ovulation in patients with PCOS, and it's often compared to metformin.
What are the benefits of taking inositol?
Inositol might balance certain chemicals in the body to help with mental conditions such as panic disorder, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It might also help insulin work better. People use inositol for metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and for reducing the risk of preterm birth.
Does inositol increase estrogen?
D-chiro-inositol, a Putative Aromatase Inhibitor, Increases Androgen and Reduces Estrogen Levels in Serum of Male Volunteers.
When is the best time to take inositol?
Inositol supplements are available in the form of capsules or powder. Bowden suggests taking two grams of powdered inositol with water before bedtime for insomnia. Smaller doses (say, 500 mg) combined with other sleep-aid nutrients like melatonin work well for difficulty falling or staying asleep.
Is inositol good for menopause?
Supplementation with myo-inositol may be considered a reliable option in the treatment of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women. After menopause, women are at increased risk for obesity, insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia with consequent dyslipidemia and hypertension.
Can myoinositol cause skin irritation?
6. Myo-inositol may cause your skin to itch. Take a lower dose or discontinue inositol if the problem persists.
Is myo-inositol a natural substance?
Even though myo-inositol is a natural substance and generally tolerated very well, some may experience negative side effects when using the supplement . It is possible too, that inositol as a supplement may not be right for you if you have certain conditions.
Can myoinositol cause fogginess?
Myo-inositol supplements may cause a feeling of fogginess when taken in high dosages. This sensation usually fades after your body becomes accustomed to the supplement. Lower the dosage to see if the symptom improves. Consult with your physician if the problem persists. 3.
Can inositol cause nausea?
If you take high doses of inositol, you may experience nausea, which is the most common side effect of the supplement. This may be remedied by taking smaller doses initially until your body grows accustomed to it. 10. If mixed with other substances, you may see side effects, but when used on its own, it is generally a safe supplement.
Can you stop taking inositol if you are dizzy?
4. Discontinue taking inositol if you are experiencing dizziness, which may be temporary or permanent.
Can pregnant women take inositol?
Pregnant and lactating mothers should NOT take inositol supplements without first consulting their OB-GYN or other medical practitioner. Doctors do not recommend supplements to pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding except under certain circumstances.
Can inositol cause hypoglycemia?
If you are considering inositol in any form, be aware of the following possible adverse effects: 1. High doses of inositol are not recommended if you have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The supplement may lower your blood sugar level and induce hypoglycemia. 2.
Why are there so many different myo-inositol supplements?
Given the relatively small number of people who could benefit from myo-inositol supplementation (at least based on the data we currently have), there’s a surprisingly large number of myo-inositol supplements out there with general fertility claims. Because these are supplements, companies don’t have to provide the FDA with their own data that they can back up any of their claims — and when they do reference studies , they're often ones conducted with people who have PCOS. What we’ve seen is that myo-inositol works for a subset of people with PCOS, but this doesn’t mean it’ll work for all people with PCOS, or for people who don’t have PCOS.
What do we know about myo-inositol and people who have PCOS?
Though there usually isn’t a ton of evidence about the effectiveness of non-FDA regulated compounds and supplements, myo-inositol stands out as an exception: There's a growing body of peer-reviewed data (from individual studies, reviews, and meta-analyses) suggesting it can improve cycle regularity, ovulation, and hormone levels in the subset of people with PCOS who have high androgen levels and insulin resistance.
What is the best fertility medicine for anovulation?
All of this said, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) still recommends more traditional fertility treatments like clomiphene citrate (Clomid) and letrozole (Femara) over metformin and inositol as first-line drug candidates for anovulation in people with PCOS.
How to know if you're ovulating?
Track your LH to better understand ovulation. LH tests are the best at-home ways to determine whether you’re ovulating regularly . People with PCOS may see that they’re ovulating infrequently or not at all. (The Modern Fertility Ovulation Test shows you your actual LH concentrations rather than relying on "average" hormone levels, which 10% of people with ovaries don't have .)
What meds are used for ovarian hyperstimulation?
One study compared ART outcomes in people undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation procedures, and one group of participants got the usual hyperstimulation meds + folic acid + myo-inositol. Clinical pregnancy and implantation rates were comparable in both groups, but in the group that also got inositol, lower doses of the hyperstimulation meds were needed. The same outcomes with less hyperstimulation meds could suggest that myo-inositol had some positive effect on egg development, but the authors emphasized that follow-up studies are needed.
What is PCOS associated with?
Check in on your reproductive hormone levels. PCOS is associated with differences in anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), testosterone , and the ratio of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to luteinizing hormone (LH). Getting a picture of your hormonal baseline is a good first step in understanding ovarian function. (The Modern Fertility Hormone Test has everyone covered for AMH, and can measure FSH and LH in those who aren't on hormonal birth control and have regular cycles.)
Does myo-inositol cause ovulation?
One study comparing ovulation frequency in people with PCOS who got treated with myo-inositol or placebo found that while 70% of people who got myo-inositol ovulated, only 21% of people in the placebo group did. People treated with myo-inositol also saw significant decreases in their testosterone levels. ( An older study with a similar design found similar results when treating people with d-chiro-inositol.)
Where is myo-inositol found?
Myo-inositol is a carbocyclic sugar found in the human body, many fruits, and vegetables. Your kidneys produce 4g of Myo-inositol daily, and this is all the body needs. Inositol is present in all body tissues. The highest concentrations in the brain and heart, and lens of the eye. It sometimes called vitamin B8 and is one of the B complex vitamins.
What foods help produce myo-inositol?
Include these following foods in your diet to help your body produce all the Myo-inositol it needs. Myo-inositol is found in cereals, legumes, and seeds, in the form of phytic acid. Rich Myo-inositol food sources are. cereals with high bran content · lecithin · fruits especially bananas, citrus fruit like oranges and grapefruit (except lemons) ...
Does Melatonin help with implantation?
This is also what it says. No difference in the outcomes of implantation or pregnancy rates.
Does myoinositol help eggs mature?
Myo-inositol is also found in the follicular fluid of a woman’s eggs. Studies show mature eggs have higher levels of Myo-inositol than immature eggs. Supplementing Myo-inositol to your daily diet does not increase levels in your eggs. It does not help your eggs mature unless you have insulin resistant PCOS.
Does myoinositol cause diarrhea?
Any excess myo-inositol consumed by a person passes in the urine like many other vitamins. The only side-effects have been diarrhea for very high doses.
Does myoinositol help with depression?
12. Research indicates that Myo-inositol has a calming effect and may help treat depression.
Is myo-inositol good for you?
Myo-inositol naturally occurs in the body. It helps to maintain many functions and is essential for good health. Myo-inositol deficiency diagnosis is rare. Supplementing Myo-inositol can help women with insulin resistant PCOS to ovulate. It can also make up losses for people who are regularly taking antibiotics or over consume coffee. There is no evidence that Myo-inositol improves egg quality or low AMH levels.
How much does myo-inositol lower blood pressure?
When treated with myo-inositol, women with metabolic syndrome experienced an 11 percent drop in diastolic blood pressure, a 20 percent drop in triglycerides, and a 22 percent increase in "good" high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
What to do if you decide to take inositol?
If you decide to take an inositol supplement, speak with your doctor to ensure that it's appropriate based on your health and medical history.
What Is Inositol?
Inositol is a type of sugar that influences both the body's insulin response and several hormones associated with mood and cognition. It's often referred to as vitamin B8, but it is not actually a vitamin. Inositol also has antioxidant properties that fight the damaging effects of free radicals in the brain, circulatory system, and other body tissues.
What is the most widely used inositol supplement?
D-chiro-inositol, inositol hexaphosphate (often referred to as "IP6") and the compound myo-inositol are the most widely used inositol supplements.
What fruits have inositol?
Cantaloupe, oats, bran, and citrus fruits (other than lemons) are especially rich in myo-inositol. Cooking or freezing fruits and vegetables reduces their inositol content. There is very little inositol in milk or yogurt.
How long does D-chiro-inositol help with PCOS?
For this study, 20 women with PCOS were given either a placebo or 6 grams of D-chiro-inositol once daily for six to eight weeks.
How long does it take for myo-inositol to lower A1C?
A 2016 pilot study published in the International Journal of Endocrinology reported that people with type 2 diabetes given myo-inositol and d-chiro-inositol daily along with their anti-diabetes drugs had a significant drop in their fasting blood glucose (192.6 mg/dL down to 160.9 mg/dL) and A1C (8.6 percent down to 7.7 percent) after three months.
What happens if you don't track ovulation?
If you don't track ovulation, it is possible that you have not ovulated, which means that your PCOS could have made this month an anovulatory month. It is also possible that you have a cyst that is producing progesterone...or that you ovulated later than you thought.
What is the best treatment for PCOs?
For PCOS, when you do go see the fertility specialist, they will try some fairly simple treatments first (after they are satisfied with the testing). PCOS tends to respond well to the front-line ovulation drugs like Serophene.
Can you have abnormal cycles if you don't ovulate?
Even though you're treating your PCOS appropriately, if you aren't ovulating regularly, there is always going to be a possibility that you will have abnormal cycles. I would blame the PCOS generally, before I'd blame the inositol specifically. But there's really no way to know.
How to get inositols?
You can get inositols by eating certain foods or taking food supplements. Studies suggest that if you're struggling with infertility, a 40-to-1 MI to DCI ratio appears to be the most helpful. This ratio has also been shown to help lower insulin and cholesterol levels in women with PCOS.
How many inositols are there for PCOs?
There are nine inositols. The two that appear to benefit women with PCOS are myo- (MI) and d-chiro (DCI). Both are important to the body's response to insulin. MI also helps control hormones needed for egg production in the ovaries. DCI also helps control male hormone levels in women. 5
What is the best MI to DCI ratio for PCOs?
Studies using treatments with a 40-to-one MI to DCI ratio have shown it is the most helpful in improving fertility rates in women with PCOS. However, food supplement companies sell remedies with varying inositol ratios. One recent review study 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. 8
How does myo and DCI work?
Myo and DCI work as secondary messengers relaying signals involved in insulin regulation. 3 It is believed that women with PCOS may have a defect in the body’s ability to convert myo into DCI, which contributes to insulin resistance and infertility. Supplementing with inositol is well tolerated ...
What are the health problems associated with polycystic ovary syndrome?
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, have a hormone imbalance. This can lead to several health problems, including diabetes and infertility. Treatment with vitamin-like substances called inositols has shown promising results.
Can you take inositol with water?
You can also buy inositol food supplements, pills, or powders you mix with water. Most people tolerate inositols well. 4 This is important because the diabetes drug doctors often use to treat PCOS, Metformin, is associated with severe side effects such as diarrhea, stomach pain, and nausea.
Does myo affect egg quality?
An imbalance in the body’s physiological ratio of myo to DCI ratio can affect egg quality. Myo-inositol has been shown to improve egg quality in women with PCOS whereas DCI administered at high dosages (600 to 2400 mg daily) was found to negatively affect oocyte quality (cells in the ovary that could become eggs) and ovarian response. ...
What Is It?
What Does It do?
Do I Need It?
- Deficiency is rare as the body manufactures Myo-inositol, and it is present in a wide variety of foods. Long-term use of antibiotics increases the need for Myo-inositol. High coffee intake (more than 2 cups per day) can produce a deficiency. Include these following foods in your diet to help your body produce all the Myo-inositol it needs. Myo-inositol is found in cereals, legumes, and se…
Can Taking Myo-Inositol Supplementation Harm You?
- Any excess myo-inositol consumed by a person passes in the urine like many other vitamins. The only side-effects have been diarrhea for very high doses.
Who Should Take Myo-Inositol For Fertility?
- Women with insulin-resistant PCOS. Combined with folic acid helps them ovulate and return to a more regular menstrual cycle. Myo-inositol does not have the same effect on women with normal insulin levels and PCOS.
I’ve Heard of Studies That Say Myo-Inositol Improved Egg Quality in Women.
- You may have come across a combination of Myo-inositol, melatonin and folic acid for improving egg health. A 2010 studycompared these three products together against just Myo-inositol and Folic acid alone. The study looks very promising. 65 women undergoing IVF were divided up into two groups. 50% of each taking the different combinations. They did notice that women taking t…
Conclusion.
- Myo-inositol naturally occurs in the body. It helps to maintain many functions and is essential for good health. Myo-inositol deficiency diagnosis is rare. Supplementing Myo-inositol can help women with insulin resistant PCOS to ovulate. It can also make up losses for people who are regularly taking antibiotics or over consume coffee. There is no evidence that Myo-inositol impr…