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Comparison of myo-inositol and metformin on glycemic control, lipid profiles, and gene expression related to insulin and lipid metabolism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Shokrpour M, Foroozanfard F, Afshar Ebrahimi F, Vahedpoor Z, Aghadavod E, Ghaderi A, Asemi Z

Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology, 2019

53 participants · 50 citations

Abstract

Abstract This investigation was conducted to evaluate comparison of myo-inositol and metformin on glycemic control, lipid profiles, and gene expression related to insulin and lipid metabolism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 53 women with PCOS, aged 18–40 years old. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to take either myo-inositol (n = 26) or metformin (n = 27) for 12 weeks. Myo-inositol supplementation, compared with metformin, significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (β −5.12 mg/dL; 95% CI, −8.09, −2.16; p=.001), serum insulin levels (β −1.49 µIU/mL; 95% CI, −2.28, −0.70; p<.001), homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (β −0.36; 95% CI, −0.55, −0.17; p<.001), serum triglycerides (β 12.42 mg/dL; 95% CI, −20.47, −4.37; p=.003) and VLDL-cholesterol levels (β −2.48 mg/dL; 95% CI, −4.09, −0.87; p=.003), and significantly increased the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (β 0.006; 95% CI, 0.002, 0.01; p=.006) compared with metformin. Moreover, myo-inositol supplementation upregulated gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) (p=.002) compared with metformin. Overall, taking myo-inositol, compared with metformin, for 12 weeks by women with PCOS had beneficial effects on glycemic control, triglycerides and VLDL-cholesterol levels, and gene expression of PPAR-γ.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 53 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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