Introducing Ovasitol For PCOS
Ovasitol is an inositol supplement for PCOS. If you’ve been following our blog posts, webinars, or have been a nutrition coaching patient of ours, you know what a fan we are of inositol for managing cravings, improving fertility and insulin resistance in PCOS. Inositol is a nutrient found in fruits, beans, grains, and nuts and is also made by the body. While there are nine forms of inositol, MYO and d-chiro-inositol (DCI) types have been well studied in women with PCOS, both showing good results.
MYO and DCI: Secondary Messengers
Here’s how Ovasitol for PCOS works. MYO and DCI are separate molecules that work differently in the body. It’s believed that women with PCOS may have a defect in secondary messengers contributing to insulin resistance. MYO and DCI work as these secondary messengers.
Simply put: when we eat foods (mostly carbohydrates), they get converted into glucose in our blood stream. We need the glucose to enter our cells to be used for energy. When blood glucose levels rise, a signal (imagine a doorbell is rung) is sent from the cell door to the nucleus telling it to open up. However, with PCOS, the doorbell on the cell door may be defective. This means that it takes longer for the cells to open its doors to glucose resulting in higher amounts of insulin needing to be secreted. Secondary messengers acts to repair the doorbell so that the cell doors open in response to glucose, resulting in less insulin needing to be secreted.
MYO versus d-Chiro Inositol
A question we get asked often is which type of inositol to take: MYO or DCI? MYO has been well documented to be superior to DCI in improving insulin resistance, egg quality and reducing the risk for gestational diabetes in women with PCOS.
It’s not recommended that women with PCOS take high amounts of DCI if they are trying to conceive (1,2). Every tissue in the body has its own ratio of MYO to DCI (MYO is always much higher). The ratio of MYO to DCI in plasma is 40:1 whereas a ratio of 100:1 is in follicular fluid. While DCI has been shown to improve insulin and androgens in PCOS, DCI alone, administered at high dosages (600-2400 mg daily) has been found to negatively affect oocyte quality and ovarian response (1,2). What’s more, the higher the dose of DCI, the worse the oocyte quality and ovarian response became. Too much DCI alters the natural ratio with MYO.
New research has shown that a combination of MYO and DCI is ideal for PCOS. Women with PCOS who took a combination of MYO and DCI with a physiologic ratio of 40:1, had better results than taking one supplement alone (2-4). These benefits include reduced risk of metabolic disease in PCOS overweight patients and improved IVF outcomes, making some authors to conclude that “the combined administration of MYO and DCI in the ideal ratio of 40:1 should be considered as the first line approach in PCOS (2).”
That’s why we are very excited to announce Ovasitol for PCOS, an inositol supplement that combines both Myo and d-chiro-inositol at the optimum 40:1 ratio-and at an affordable price!
What is Ovasitol for PCOS?
Ovasitol for PCOS is an inositol supplement scientifically formulated to promote menstrual regularity and normal ovarian function. Manufactured by THERALOGIX, it is the first and only inositol supplement that has been independently verified for content accuracy, purity, and freedom from contaminants through a not-for-profit certification program (NSF® International). Ovasitol is formulated by an advisory board of leading reproductive health specialists.
How is Ovasitol different than other inositol supplements?
Ovasitol for PCOS contains a combination of myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol, in the body’s natural ratio of 40 to 1. Recent studies have shown that taking a combination of these two forms, in this ratio, is more beneficial to women with PCOS than taking MYO or DCI alone. Better yet: Ovasitol is also much more affordable than other popular inositol supplements for PCOS.
What is the recommended dosage of Ovasitol for PCOS?
The recommended dosage of Ovasitol is one packet, twice a day. Ovasitol is packaged in a convenient, single-serving packet to empty into water or other beverage. Each packet contains a tasteless and odorless gluten-free powder, with 2,000 mg of myo-inositol + 50 mg of D-chiro-inositol. One box of Ovasitol contains 180 packets and is designed to last 90 days.
It generally takes at least three months of daily inositol supplementation to see improvement in your test results and/or the return of regular menstrual cycles.
Are there side effects from Ovasitol for PCOS?
There are no expected side effects from using Ovasitol for PCOS. Studies have shown that inositol is safe and well-tolerated when taken at the typical recommended dose of 4,000 mg a day. Ovasitol can be taken along with most other nutritional supplements and prescription medications, including metformin. Ovasitol is safe to continue throughout pregnancy. As with any dietary supplement, it is important to discuss the use of all medications, vitamins and supplements with your healthcare team.
Disclosure: the PCOS Nutrition Center is a retailer of Ovasitol.
Sources
1. Isabella R, Raffone E. Does ovary need D-chiro-inositol? J Ovarian Res. 2012 May 15;5(1):14.
2. Nordio M, Proietti E. The combined therapy with myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol reduces the risk of metabolic disease in PCOS overweight patients compared to myo-inositol supplementation alone. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2012 May;16(5):575-81.
3. Dinicola S1, Chiu TT, Unfer V, Carlomagno G, Bizzarri M. The rationale of the myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol combined treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Pharmacol. 2014 Oct;54(10):1079-92.
4. Colazingari S, Treglia M, Najjar R, Bevilacqua A. The combined therapy myo-inositol plus D-chiro-inositol, rather than D-chiro-inositol, is able to improve IVF outcomes: results from a randomized controlled trial. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2013 Dec;288(6):1405-11.
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Comments (27)
Rosa
January 4, 2015 at 1:39 pm
IS IT OKAY TO TAKE OVASITOL AND NAC TOGETHER? I HAVE BAD HIRSUTISM AND NEED THE OTHER VITAMINS TO MAINTAIN PCOS. I CURRENTLY TAKE 1000 MG OF METFORMIN TWICE A DAY AND IT REALLY HELPS BUT IM LOSING SO MUCH HAIR ON MY HEAD. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.
Angela Grassi
January 5, 2015 at 1:39 pm
Yes, you can take NAC and insositol at the same time.
Melissa
April 20, 2016 at 8:13 pm
2 packets daily? Does it matter if it’s taken together or should it be spread out (breakfast and dinner)?
Angela Grassi
April 24, 2016 at 6:22 pm
Ovasitol is best taken at meals and spread out between breakfast and dinner.
Sarah
April 21, 2016 at 12:58 am
I’ve lost weight and my skin looks clearer since taking Ovasitol, however, I’m unsure if it’s helping with my hirsutism at all. Also, since starting Ovasitol I have experienced mild panic attacks with shortness of breath. Is this common?
Weslea
April 25, 2016 at 4:02 pm
Is this something that one should wait to stop taking birth control to try? I want to get pregant in about 6 months from now but was planning to stay on my pill until then. Should i wait until I’m off bc to take?
Angela Grassi
May 7, 2016 at 9:08 am
Welsea, you can take Ovasitol and birth control medications. Ovasitol can also improve metabolic aspects of PCOS and many patients report it reduces cravings.
Amanda
May 9, 2016 at 4:32 pm
Is ovasitol safe to take if I only have 1 kidney? I know I can no longer use metformin or any type of NSAIDs.
Angela Grassi
May 9, 2016 at 4:41 pm
Yes, it is fine for you to take it.
Odalys
May 14, 2016 at 8:52 pm
Is Ovasitol safe to take if breastfeeding?
Angela Grassi
May 16, 2016 at 11:56 am
Yes, ovasitol is safe to take while breastfeeding.
Angela
November 18, 2016 at 12:49 am
Does it matter if the water or other liquid I mix this supplement with is hot or cold? Will it affect the potency/benefits of it either way?
Angela Grassi
November 18, 2016 at 9:01 am
You can mix Ovasitol in water or iced tea or other beverages hot or cold.
Mary Kate Devlin
April 7, 2017 at 10:09 am
I am currently 9 weeks pregnant and have been taking Ovsitol since Sept 2016. I have also been taking metformin at 2000mg/day for over a year. My doctor is weaning me off of metformin now. Should I continue to take Ovasitol during my whole pregnancy or stop after the first trimester like metformin?
Angela Grassi
April 7, 2017 at 2:45 pm
That’s a tough question you and your doctor have to decide. There are only a small handful of studies that show inositol can reduce the risk of gestational diabetes in pregnancy but no long term studies and affects on baby’s.
Andrea
April 7, 2017 at 11:05 am
I know ovasitol has the stereoisomers of inositol in a specific ratio. Is it ok to take with a B-complex supplement that lists inositol in the ingredients or on the label?
Angela Grassi
April 7, 2017 at 2:43 pm
yes, that is fine. It’s usually not much inositol that are in complex supplements.
Cristian
July 15, 2017 at 9:00 pm
Can ovasitol be taken with high blood pressure meds? I did read somewhere that ovasitol helps with blood pressure but im not to sure if its ok to take together.
Angela Grassi
July 16, 2017 at 10:13 am
Yes, you can take ovasitol with high blood pressure medications.
Meghan
January 31, 2018 at 12:06 pm
Is it advisable to take a Choline supplement while using Ovasitol? I’ve often seen it recommended to pair Inositol and Choline together for optimum performance. What might be the best dose of Choline to use with Ovasitol? Thanks!
Angela Grassi
February 2, 2018 at 1:08 pm
We haven’t seen any studies to support the need for choline supplementation. Eggs are a great source of choline. Many prentals have choline in them as well to support a healthy pregnancy.
Nisha
May 28, 2018 at 9:08 am
Rosa
January 4, 2015 at 1:39 pm
IS IT OKAY TO TAKE OVASITOL AND NAC TOGETHER? I HAVE BAD HIRSUTISM AND NEED THE OTHER VITAMINS TO MAINTAIN PCOS. I CURRENTLY TAKE 1000 MG OF METFORMIN TWICE A DAY AND IT REALLY HELPS BUT IM LOSING SO MUCH HAIR ON MY HEAD. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.
..some one you that question plz answer ..if she start losing head here so what’s the result ..Plz guest ..and what is nac..
I need to start this tablet so help me out plz
Angela Grassi
May 28, 2018 at 1:34 pm
yes it is fine to take ovasitol and NAC together.
Steph
December 11, 2018 at 2:03 pm
Hi there,
I am from the UK i didn’t see an option to ship to the UK. Is it possible to have an order delivered here? We don’t have any thing like this here, we have the MYI and DCI separately but not a combination and none of the places that do this are well known/specialists like your selves.
Angela Grassi
December 20, 2018 at 5:55 pm
Ovasitol is available in the UK but we don’t ship there.
L.Q.Anthony
November 20, 2019 at 11:27 pm
Hi if u taking metformin 500mg twice a day and insulin 25 unit in the morning and 15 in the evening and i still take ovasitol pcos my craving is out of control and how long will it take as i start to take it
Angela Grassi
December 12, 2019 at 10:13 am
We recommend giving Ovasitol the full 3 months to see a benefit.