Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multisystem reproductive-metabolic disorder and the most common endocrine cause of infertility. The objective of our study was to determine the influence of myo-inositol (MI) on insulin resistance (IR), menstrual cycle regularity, and hyperandrogenism in women suffering from PCOS with normal BMI and diagnosed IR.
Methods: We performed a prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) that included 60 participants with PCOS who had IR and a normal BMI. Two groups were formed. A group of thirty patients received MI, and thirty patients in the control group received metformin (MET).
Results: A statistically significant reduction in the area under the curve (AUC) of insulin values during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was recorded in both examined groups after the applied therapy with MI and MET. The regularity of the menstrual cycle in both groups was improved in >90% of patients. A statistically significant decrease in androgenic hormones (testosterone, SHBG, free androgen index-FAI, androstenedione) was recorded in both groups and did not differ between the groups.
Conclusions: Both MI and MET can be considered very effective in the regulation of IR, menstrual cycle irregularities, and hyperandrogenism in women with PCOS.
Keywords: PCOS; PCOS phenotypes; hyperandrogenism; insulin resistance; metformin; myo-inositol.