Myo-inositol supplementation of no help in pregnant women with PCOS

Daily myo-inositol supplementation does not appear to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and pre-eclampsia in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to a study.

The study included 464 pregnant patients (mean age 31.5 years, 86.1 percent White, median prepregnancy BMI 24.7 kg/m²) with PCOS who were between 8 and 16 weeks of gestation. Most of them were nulliparous (66 percent) and conceived through assisted reproductive technology (67.5 percent).

These participants were randomly assigned to receive sachets containing either myo-inositol 2 g with 0.2 mg of folic acid twice daily (n=230) or matching placebo with 0.2 mg of folic acid only (n=234) until delivery.

A composite of gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, or preterm birth (before 37 weeks of gestation) was set as the primary outcome.

There was no significant difference seen in the incidence of a primary outcome event between the myo-inositol and placebo groups (25 percent vs 26.8 percent; relative risk [RR], 0.93, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.68–1.28; p=0.67).

Other maternal or neonatal outcomes were similar between the two groups, except for a lower primary caesarean delivery rate in the myo-inositol group (5.9 percent vs 11.6 percent; RR, 0.51, 95 percent CI, 0.27–0.97; p=0.04) that researchers believed may be coincidental.

Glycated haemoglobin levels were similar between the two groups, suggesting that myo-inositol supplementation did not induce glycaemic control.

In light of the findings, myo-inositol supplementation should not be recommended as dietary advice for pregnant individuals with PCOS.