PCOS NUTRITION CENTER BLOG

Sure, you may have heard that the inositol supplement Ovasitol is great for PCOS, but not sure if you believe the hype? Here’s 10 benefits of taking Ovasitol if you have PCOS.

What is Ovasitol?

Ovasitol is a high quality, medical-grade supplement that combines both myo and d-chiro-inositol that mimic’s the body’s own ratio.

Inositol is a pseudovitamin of the B vitamin family, which is like saying, it’s almost a vitamin. It’s found in many foods such as fruit, vegetables, beans and buckwheat.

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Why Ovasitol?

Ovasitol has both myo- and D-chiro-inositol in the ideal 40 to 1 ratio to mimic levels in the body. This ideal ratio helps restore menstrual regularity and hormone balance, and aid in insulin signaling, thereby decreasing insulin resistance. This results in lower insulin and blood sugar levels better than myo inositol alone.

Ovasitol 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.

Here are 10 benefits of taking Ovasitol if you have PCOS:

Improves Egg Quality

A major problem in PCOS is that people tend to produce many eggs, but the eggs are poor quality due to the hormone imbalance. A combination of Myo to d-chiro inositol in the ideal 40:1 ratio has been well documented to improve egg quality. High levels of d-chiro inositol (over 300 mg daily) has been shown to worsen egg quality. This is because the ovary contains a high levels of myo inositol. It is believed that women with PCOS have a defect leading to a rapid conversion of myo to d-chiro inositol, depleting levels of myo inositol.

Better Menstrual Regularity and Ovulation

The majority of women who take Ovasitol see more regularity with their menstrual cycles within 3 months. Many health care providers are now recommending patients with PCOS try Ovasitol before going on medications with side effects (looking at you metformin!). Ovasitol is particularly good for adolescents with PCOS who may not need oral contraceptives.

A review of 12 randomized control trials showed that using Myo-inositol in combination with D-chiro-Inositol is capable of restoring spontaneous ovulation and improving fertility in women with PCOS.

Reduces Cravings

I haven’t seen any published evidence to show this, but I have heard from the majority of patients who take Ovasitol (as well as myself!), that it lowers their cravings for carbohydrates and sweets. As one woman put it “It makes me feel like a normal person.” This reduction in cravings could be due to the power of Ovasitol to lower the appetite stimulating insulin (see below).

Lowers Insulin and Glucose

Inositols work by helping the body use insulin more effectively.  They are considered “secondary messengers” in insulin signaling.  Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that allows our cells to take in glucose and produce energy from the food we eat.  For insulin to work, it must bind to the insulin receptor on the surface of our cells.

Think of a lock (the insulin receptor) and a key (insulin).  When insulin binds to its receptor, it “unlocks” and releases secondary messengers.  These secondary messengers tell the cell it is time to take in glucose from the blood.

Most women with PCOS are insulin resistant and do not properly release secondary messengers (such as inositol).  As a result, glucose does not get into the cell efficiently, and blood sugar levels remain high.  This tells the pancreas to make more insulin.  The over-production of insulin results in high insulin and blood sugar levels.

Check out this video where I explain inositol’s actions in PCOS: VIDEO LINK

Improves Diabetes

Because Ovasitol has been shown to lower glucose and insulin in PCOS, researchers are now studying it in those with diabetes.  Some research has shown that taking inositol can improve blood sugar levels in those with type 2 diabetes. 

Helps with Mood

Inositol has been shown to improve both anxiety and depression. Sixty women with PCOS were randomly assigned to intake either myo-inositol or metformin for 12 weeks. Mental health indicators significantly improved in the myo-inositol group compared to the metformin group.

A review of seven studies found that inositol significantly reduced depression compared to placebo, especially well for those with PMDD.

Decreases Cholesterol

The combined therapy myo-inositol plus D-chiro-inositol (in a in a physiological ratio of 40:1) has been shown to improve cholesterol levels. PCOS patients who took the combined therapy of myo-inositol plus D-chiro-inositol showed significant reductions in LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) and triglyceride levels in just 6 months.

Lowers Androgen Levels

Another added benefit of Ovasitol is that it has the ability to lower androgen (testosterone) levels. PCOS patients who took inositol showed significant reductions in androgen levels in just 6 months of use

Improves Thyroid Functioning

Myo-inositol plays an important role in thyroid function and autoimmunity. Clinical studies have shown that after treatment with Myo-inositol, TSH levels significantly declined in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism as well as a decline of antithyroid autoantibodies.

Reduces Gestational Diabetes Risk

Women with PCOS are at an increased risk for developing gestational diabetes. Numerous studies have found that inositols decrease the risk of gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

A 40:1 combination of myo-inositol, D-chiro-inositol, and other nutrients decreased the risk of gestational diabetes among women with elevated first trimester fasting blood sugar levels.

A study of women with PCOS found that only 17% of those who took myo-inositol throughout pregnancy developed gestational diabetes (compared to 54% of those who did not take inositol).  Studies also found that myo-inositol decreased the risk of gestational diabetes by 50-67% among women with a family history of type 2 diabetes.

Are There Side Effects From Ovasitol?

There are no expected side effects from Ovasitol. 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.

What Is The Recommended Dosage Of Ovasitol?

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.

Read Frequently asked questions about Ovasitol

Where Do you Buy Ovasitol?

Ovasitol is available at the lowest price in the PCOS Nutrition Center Store with free shipping to US and Canada.

References

Akbari Sene A1, Tabatabaie A1, Nikniaz HThe myo-inositol effect on the oocyte quality and fertilization rate among women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing assisted reproductive technology cycles: a randomized clinical trial. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2019 Jun;299(6):1701-1707.

Minozzi M, Nordio M, Pajalich R. The Combined therapy myo-inositol plus D-Chiro-inositol, in a physiological ratio, reduces the cardiovascular risk by improving the lipid profile in PCOS patients. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2013 Feb;17(4):537-40.

Fallahi P, Ferrari SM, Elia G. Myo-inositol in autoimmune thyroiditis, and hypothyroidism. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2018 Dec;19(4):349-354.

Jamilian H, Jamilian M2, Foroozanfard FComparison of myo-inositol and metformin on mental health parameters and biomarkers of oxidative stress in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2018 Dec;39(4):307-314.

Mukai T, Kishi T, Matsuda Y. A meta-analysis of inositol for depression and anxiety disorders. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2014 Jan;29(1):55-63.

D’Anna et al. Myo-inositol may prevent gestational diabetes in PCOS women. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2012; 28(6):440-2.

Dell’ Edera et al. The influence of D-chiro-inositol and D-myo-inositol in pregnant women with glucose intolerance. Biomed Rep. 2017; 7(2):169-172.