One particularly significant natural method of treating PCOS is inositol, a sugar alcohol chemical compound found in fruits, beans, grains and nuts (although it is not always bioavailable in these foods if presented with phytates). In nutrition, inositol is present in the highest levels in cantaloupeand oranges.
What Is Inositol?
Inositol is a chemical compound with nine stereoisomers, which is just a scientific way of saying that it exists in nature in nine almost identical forms. It’s technically a rearranged form (“isomer”) of glucose, which means it is a natural sugar. (1) This simple carbohydrate (most accurately defined as a sugar alcohol) is quickly broken down to be used as an energy source in the body.
Inositol is used in the body a few different ways. For one, it’s essential in the process of building cell membranes. It’s also a “secondary messenger” in your central nervous system, which is one reason it’s known to increase the impact of neurotransmitters in your brain and, maybe, why it causes some mood-boosting effects in certain people. In addition, two forms of it together (myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol, in a 40:1 ratio) increase insulin sensitivity. (2)
This molecule has some pretty powerful health benefits. Researchers typically use the various forms in powdered extract (supplement) form, but there are many foods that are rich in it.
Supplement with Inositol
One particularly significant natural method of treating PCOS is inositol, a sugar alcohol chemical compound found in fruits, beans, grains and nuts (although it is not always bioavailable in these foods if presented with phytates). In nutrition, inositol is present in the highest levels in cantaloupeand oranges.
Most sources investigate inositol in supplement form, although the specifics can get a little tricky as there are two types of inositol: myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol. However, the research seems to support that inositol can greatly improve PCOS symptoms. Multiple studies have shown that supplementation may improve insulin resistance, decrease male hormones in the bloodstream, and lower blood pressure and high triglycerides. The recommended dosage for naturally treating polycystic ovarian syndrome is a 40:1 ratio of myo-inositol to D-chiro-inositol, typically 2000:50 grams or 4000:100 grams. (3, 4, 5, 6)
Most notably, inositol seems to promote ovulation, which, in turn, may support fertility. In one study, only 6 percent of control group participants experienced menstrual cycles versus 86 percent in the inositol group, results that seem to be supported by follow-up research. (7)
Using inositol supplements and eating foods high in this nutrient may also help combat some of the mental risks involved with PCOS, since inositol has been found to combat these in several human studies. Examples of this include:
- Depression (8, 9, 10)
- Panic disorder (11, 12)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (49)
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) (13)
- Anxiety (14)
Other that inositol, PCOS requires nutritional therapy that can help balance hormones. If you have not been considering your food intake, this may be your wake up call.
While not every natural solution will work in the same way for every woman with PCOS, there are many natural remedies for PCOS that may work effectively. Nine examples of these are to:
- Give your diet a makeover (with a keto or anti-inflammatory diet)
- Get enough rest
- Exercise in an appropriate way
- Avoid exposure to endocrine disruptors
- Supplement with inositol
- Try acupuncture
- Get more vitamin D
- Try other PCOS supplements (magnesium, zinc, calcium, omega-3s, chromium, N-acetylcysteine and folic acid)
- Visit a chiropractor
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