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Mi9.0
Myo-Inositol Research
Probably helpsHigh safety
36 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Myo-Inositol appears to help in 7 of 9 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1995–2025 with a typical study size of 692 participants.
Based on 36 studies · 21 meta-analyses · 13 RCTs · 41,038 total participants
Confidence
High
What the studies found
7helped1unclear1didn't help· 27 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Women's healthSupports healthy estrogen metabolism and hormonal equilibrium · 4-8 weeks · May help reduce menstrual discomfort and PMS symptoms · 1-3 cycles
Likely helps34 studies
Glucose & metabolicImproved insulin sensitivity and glycemic control · 4-12 weeks · Improves insulin signalling, especially in PCOS and metabolic syndrome · 8-12 weeks
Likely helps29 studies
Fertility & reproductiveMay support reproductive health and fertility markers · 4-12 weeks
Probably helps11 studies
Weight management
Mostly mechanism / observational6 studies
Men's vitalityStrong evidence for PCOS hormone normalization and ovulation · 4-12 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational5 studies
Skin health
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Anxiety & stressEffective for panic disorder and OCD at therapeutic doses · 4-8 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Safety profile
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Cholesterol & lipids
Too few graded studies2 studies
Depression & moodImproved ovulation and hormone balance in PCOS · 3-6 months
Too few graded studies1 study
Heart & blood pressure
Too few graded studies1 study
Sleep & insomniaSerotonin pathway support may promote sleep onset · 2-4 weeks
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 27 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
100%
across studies
People studied
41k
typical study: 692 people
Strongest designs
34
21 pooled, 13 randomised
Showed benefit
78%
7/9 studies
How long studies ran
1–3 months
2
Populations Studied
Women with PCOS6
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome4
Pregnant women3
Women with ovarian aging1
Active research area
25 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2025
199520102025
1PCOS symptoms improvementMeta-AnalysisCited 2×n=5,501 · very large study2025
Chromium, inositol, and Omega-3 were found to be beneficial for improving lipid profile.
Zhao G et al. · Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E (2025)
Inositol significantly decreased total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while curcumin was most effective in improving low-density and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
Chromium, inositol, and Omega-3 were found to be beneficial for improving lipid profile.
For improving obesity, sex hormone levels, inflammatory factors and oxidative stress indicators of PCOS patients, carnitine, chromium, and soy isoflavones are effective options, respectively.
2Body weight reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 10×n=2,362 · very large study2023
Carnitine was relatively effective in reducing body mass, while chromium, Omega-3, and selenium were beneficial for improving glucose metabolism.
Hu X et al. · PeerJ (2023)
The network meta-analysis showed that carnitine, inositol, and probiotics reduced body weight and body mass index (BMI) compared to placebo, and carnitine outperformed the other supplements (SUCRAs: 96.04%, 97.73%, respectively).
Omega-3 lowered fasting blood glucose (FBG) (SUCRAs: 93.53%), and chromium reduced fasting insulin (FINS) (SUCRAs: 72.90%); both were superior to placebo in improving insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), and chromium was more effective than Omega-3 (SUCRAs: 79.99%).
Selenium was potent in raising the quantitative insulin sensitivity index (QUICKI) (SUCRAs: 87.92%).
3Clinical pregnancy ratesMeta-AnalysisCited 25×n=2,617 · very large study2024
The results showed that use of antioxidants not only significantly increased the number of retrieved oocytes and high-quality embryo rates but also reduced the dose of gonadotropin, contributing to...
Shang Y et al. · Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) (2024)
The results showed that use of antioxidants not only significantly increased the number of retrieved oocytes and high-quality embryo rates but also reduced the dose of gonadotropin, contributing to higher clinical pregnancy rates.
Appropriate antioxidant treatment should be offered at a low dose according to the patient's age and ovarian reserve.
This study was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42022359529.
4Gestational diabetes preventionMeta-AnalysisCited 26×n=1,319 · large study2023
Evidence from seven studies shows that antenatal dietary supplementation with myo-inositol during pregnancy may reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and preterm birth.
Motuhifonua SK et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2023)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
For the primary neonatal outcomes, only one study measured the risk of a large-for-gestational-age infant and found myo-inositol was associated with both appreciable benefit and harm (RR 1.40, 95% CI 0.65 to 3.02; 1 study, 234 infants; low-certainty evidence).
Further, myo-inositol may result in little to no difference in caesarean section (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.07; 4 studies, 829 women; low-certainty evidence).
For the secondary neonatal outcomes, meta-analysis showed no neonatal hypoglycaemia (RR 3.07, 95% CI 0.90 to 10.52; 4 studies; 671 infants; very low-certainty evidence).
5PCOS managementMeta-AnalysisCited 27×n=2,230 · very large study2024
The evidence supporting the use of inositol in the management of PCOS is limited and inconclusive.
Fitz V et al. · The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (2024)
The evidence supporting the use of inositol in the management of PCOS is limited and inconclusive.
Clinicians and their patients should consider the uncertainty of the evidence together with individual values and preferences when engaging in shared decision-making regarding the use of inositol for PCOS.
6IVF/ICSI outcomes and OHSS reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 4×n=1,827 · large study2024
Metformin and myoinositol may reduce OHSS risk in PCOS patients but did not significantly improve pregnancy outcomes.
Lin L et al. · Journal of ovarian research (2024)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Myoinositol was linked to a shorter gonadotropin duration (SMD = -1.21, 95% CI -2.03 to -0.38) and fewer side effects (OR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.06-0.83) compared to controls.
Metformin led to lower E2 levels, a higher number of mature oocytes, and increased side effects (SMD = -376.52, 95% CI -610.83 to -142.22; SMD = 2.23, 95% CI 0.36-4.10; OR = 6.85, 95% CI 4.32-10.86) than controls.
Metformin and myoinositol may reduce OHSS risk in PCOS patients but did not significantly improve pregnancy outcomes.
7Regular menstrual cycle in PCOSMeta-AnalysisCited 70×n=1,691 · large study2023
Inositol is an effective and safe treatment in PCOS.
Greff D et al. · Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E (2023)
Huge harm
← WorseNo effectBetter →
In patients treated with inositols, the risk (CI: 1.13; 2.85) of having a regular menstrual cycle was found by 1.79 higher than in the case of placebo.
Ours is the first study to report that for women with PCOS, myo-inositol combined with D-chiro-inositol and metformin combined with thiazolidinediones appear superior to metformin alone in improving insulin resistance and decreasing total testosterone.
Zhao H et al. · Reproductive health (2021)
Compared with metformin, treatment with myo-inositol + D-chiro-inositol was associated with a greater improvement in menstrual frequency (odds ratio 14.70 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.31-93.58]).
Ours is the first study to report that for women with PCOS, myo-inositol combined with D-chiro-inositol and metformin combined with thiazolidinediones appear superior to metformin alone in improving insulin resistance and decreasing total testosterone.
Myo-inositol combined with D-chiro-inositol is particularly efficacious in menstrual recovery.
9Gestational diabetes mellitus incidenceMeta-AnalysisCited 21×n=1,321 · large study2022
In conclusion, 4 g MI nutritional supplementation per day during early pregnancy may reduce GDM incidence and severity, therefore may be a practical and safe approach for the prevention of GDM.
Wei J et al. · Nutrients (2022)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Pooled results were expressed as relative risk (RR) or mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI).
Compared with the control group, 4 g myo-inositol (MI) supplementation per day significantly decreased the incidence of GDM (RR = 0.30, 95% CI (0.18, 0.49), p < 0.00001).
It also decreased the need of insulin treatment, and reduced the incidence of preterm delivery and neonatal hypoglycemia.
10Clinical pregnancy rateMeta-AnalysisCited 64×n=6,510 · very large study2017
In this review, there was very low-quality evidence to show that taking an antioxidant may provide benefit for subfertile women, but insufficient evidence to draw any conclusions about adverse events.
Showell MG et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2017)
This suggests that among subfertile women with an expected clinical pregnancy rate of 22%, the rate among women using antioxidants would be between 27% and 33%.
Heterogeneity was moderately high.There was insufficient evidence to determine whether there was a difference between the groups in rates of miscarriage (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.08, P = 0.14, 18 RCTs, 2834 women, I2 = 23%, very low quality evidence).
This suggests that, among subfertile women with an expected miscarriage rate of 7%, use of antioxidants would be expected to result in a miscarriage rate of between 4% and 7%.
11Live birth ratesMeta-AnalysisCited 213×n=4,451 · very large study2017
Our updated review suggests that metformin alone may be beneficial over placebo for live birth, although the evidence quality was low.
Morley LC et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2017)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Metformin versus placebo or no treatmentThe evidence suggests that metformin may improve live birth rates compared with placebo (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.51, 4 studies, 435 women, I2 = 0%, low-quality evidence).
There was no clear evidence of a difference in miscarriage rates (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.50 to 2.35, 4 studies, 748 women, I2 = 0%, low-quality evidence).
However, the combined therapy group had higher rates of clinical pregnancy (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.99, 16 studies, 1529 women, I2 = 33%, moderate-quality evidence) and ovulation (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.28 to 1.92, 21 studies, 1624 women, I2 = 64%, moderate-quality evidence).
12Cycle regularization in PCOSMeta-Analysisn=388 · medium study2025
In this meta-analysis of RCTs, combination therapy was associated with cycle regularization and reduction in hirsutism and LH/FSH ratio compared to metformin monotherapy.
Kelly FA et al. · Endocrine (2025)
Differences in acne (p = 0.58), body mass index (p = 0.13), fasting blood glucose (p = 0.07) and HOMA-IR (p = 0.25) were not statistically significant.
In this meta-analysis of RCTs, combination therapy was associated with cycle regularization and reduction in hirsutism and LH/FSH ratio compared to metformin monotherapy.
Further studies are needed to clarify the true benefits of the use of inositol in PCOS treatment.
13Triglyceride levelsMeta-AnalysisCited 10×n=612 · large study2022
Compared with metformin, the suitable supplemental dosage of myo-ins may be helpful in lowering levels of TG and avoiding adverse events (AEs).
Zhang JQ et al. · European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (2022)
Compared with metformin, the suitable supplemental dosage of myo-ins may be helpful in lowering levels of TG and avoiding adverse events (AEs).
Further research warranted to confirm findings
14Hormonal and metabolic parameters in PCOSMeta-AnalysisCited 14×n=460 · medium study2023
Our meta-analysis comparing hormonal and metabolic parameters between MET and MI did not show much significant difference, indicating both drugs are equally beneficial in improving metabolic and hormonal parameters in patients with PCOS.
Fatima K et al. · Irish journal of medical science (2023)
Our meta-analysis comparing hormonal and metabolic parameters between MET and MI did not show much significant difference, indicating both drugs are equally beneficial in improving metabolic and hormonal parameters in patients with PCOS.
15Risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitusMeta-AnalysisCited 25×n=586 · large study2018
Myo-inositol is related to lower incidence of GDM, as well as fasting, 1h, and 2h OGTT value, in pregnant women with high risk of this condition.
Guo X et al. · Journal of diabetes and its complications (2018)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Compared with placebo, patients with myo-inositol supplement had significantly lower the risk of developing GDM (RR=0.44, 95% CI [0.32, 0.62], P<0.0001) without heterogeneity (I2=0%, P=0.99), which was confirmed by TSA.
Myo-inositol did not significantly decrease birth weight (60.60g, 95% CI [-177.21, 56.02], P=0.31) with significant heterogeneity (I2=52%, P=0.12), but was not confirmed by TSA.
Myo-inositol is related to lower incidence of GDM, as well as fasting, 1h, and 2h OGTT value, in pregnant women with high risk of this condition.
The available evidence is insufficient to recommend nutrient supplementation to improve female infertility in women trying to conceive naturally and those utilising MAR.
Pandey C et al. · Nutrients (2024)
The available evidence is insufficient to recommend nutrient supplementation to improve female infertility in women trying to conceive naturally and those utilising MAR.
However, there is currently no indication that these nutrients pose any risk of significant harm.
19Treatment recommendations for nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals in psychiatric disordersMeta-AnalysisCited 117×2022
Based on the current data and clinician input, a range of nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals were given either a supportive recommendation or a provisional recommendation across a range of various psychiatric disorders.
Sarris J et al. · The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (2022)
Based on the current data and clinician input, a range of nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals were given either a supportive recommendation or a provisional recommendation across a range of various psychiatric disorders.
However several had only a weak endorsement for potential use; for a few it was not possible to reach a clear recommendation direction, largely due to mixed study findings; while some other agents showed no obvious therapeutic benefit and were clearly not recommended for use.
It is the intention of these guidelines to inform psychiatric/medical, and health professional practice globally.