Document Type

Article

Original Publication Date

1999

Journal/Book/Conference Title

The New England Journal of Medicine

Volume

340

Issue

17

First Page

1314

Last Page

1320

DOI of Original Publication

10.1056/NEJM199904293401703

Comments

Originally published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199904293401703

Date of Submission

January 2015

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Women with the polycystic ovary syndrome have insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, possibly because of a deficiency of a d-chiro-inositol–containing phosphoglycan that mediates the action of insulin. We hypothesized that the administration of d-chiro-inositol would replenish stores of the mediator and improve insulin sensitivity.

METHODS

We measured steroids in serum and performed oral glucose-tolerance tests before and after the oral administration of 1200 mg of d-chiro-inositol or placebo once daily for six to eight weeks in 44 obese women with the polycystic ovary syndrome. The serum progesterone concentration was measured weekly to monitor for ovulation.

RESULTS

In the 22 women given d-chiro-inositol, the mean (±SD) area under the plasma insulin curve after the oral administration of glucose decreased from 13,417±11,572 to 5158±6714 μU per milliliter per minute (81±69 to 31±40 nmol per liter per minute) (P=0.007; P=0.07 for the comparison of this change with the change in the placebo group); glucose tolerance did not change significantly. The serum free testosterone concentration in these 22 women decreased from 1.1±0.8 to 0.5±0.5 ng per deciliter (38±28 to 17±17 pmol per liter) (P=0.006 for the comparison with the change in the placebo group). The women's diastolic and systolic blood pressure decreased by 4 mm Hg (Pchiro-inositol ovulated, as compared with 6 of the 22 women in the placebo group (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

d-Chiro-inositol increases the action of insulin in patients with the polycystic ovary syndrome, thereby improving ovulatory function and decreasing serum androgen concentrations, blood pressure, and plasma triglyceride concentrations.

Rights

From The New England Journal of Medicine, Nestler, J.E., Jakubowicz, D.J., Reamer, P., et al., Ovulatory and metabolic effects of D-chiro-inositol in the polycystic ovary syndrome, Vol. 340, Page 1314, Copyright © 1999 Massachusetts Medical Society. Reprinted with permission.

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VCU Obstetrics and Gynecology Publications

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