All articlesSystematic review / meta-analysis
Inositol and PCOS: the review that informed the international guideline
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 30 trials in 2,230 women, conducted to inform the 2023 update of the international evidence-based PCOS guideline.
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Key findings
- D-chiro-inositol improved ovulation rate versus placebo (OR 11.5) in a meta-analysis of only 2 trials.
- Benefits for some metabolic measures with myo-inositol or D-chiro-inositol.
- Inositol may have no effect on other outcomes.
What this study does not show
The evidence is specific to women with PCOS and to ovulation and metabolic measures — it is not a treatment for infertility generally. The ovulation meta-analysis rests on only two small trials.
Key findings
- D-chiro-inositol improved ovulation rate versus placebo (OR 11.5) in a meta-analysis of only 2 trials.
- Benefits for some metabolic measures with myo-inositol or D-chiro-inositol.
- Inositol may have no effect on other outcomes.
- The paper describes the evidence as limited and inconclusive for most outcomes and calls for more rigorous trials.
What this study does not show
The evidence is specific to women with PCOS and to ovulation and metabolic measures — it is not a treatment for infertility generally. The ovulation meta-analysis rests on only two small trials.
Published source
- Inositol for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis to Inform the 2023 Update of the International Evidence-based PCOS Guidelines
- Fitz V, Graca S, Mahalingaiah S, Liu J, Lai L, Butt A, et al.
- · 2024
- Systematic review and meta-analysis
- DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad762