PCOS Review Newsletter #58

A free health newsletter for women with polycystic ovary syndrome or polycystic ovaries.

Issue #058      May 20, 2008
Nancy Dunne, N.D., Naturopathic Physician
Bill Slater, Research Associate

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) Inositol Improves Quality of Your Eggs

2) Young Women Are Low in Vitamin D

3) Do Insulin-Sensitizing Drugs Improve Your Health?

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1) Inositol Improves Quality of Your Eggs

In previous newsletters we've shared with you several studies showing that the B-vitamin inositol and d-pinitol (another form of inositol) are useful for improving ovulation, reducing insulin resistance and reducing symptoms of PCOS.

A new study released a few days ago suggests inositol may also be beneficial for improving egg quality in women who have polycystic ovary syndrome.

You need to have good egg quality in order to become pregnant, and in order to avoid a miscarriage. As you may know, PCOS women have a significantly greater risk of miscarriage. In addition we know that egg quality begins to significantly decline for all women after age 35.

In this study, sixty infertile PCOS women were undergoing assisted reproduction treatment. One group was given inositol plus folic acid (anther B-vitamin). The other group was given folic acid alone.

Those who took inositol plus folic acid, but not those taking folic acid alone, had significantly healthier egg cells.

The results of this study indicate that if you are interested in increasing your chances of becoming pregnant and reducing risk of miscarriage, inositol supplementation is advisable. Good egg quality is necessary for a successful pregnancy.

It appears that women with polycystic ovarian syndrome have a need for higher inositol intake because the metabolize and lose it at a greater rate than other women.

We can recommend either of these products: Inositol-5. This product contains 324 mg. of inositol in each tablet and is quite inexpensive. It you were to take the same amount used in a recent study, you would be taking 2,000 - 4,000 mg., or 6 - 12 tablets a day. d-Pinitol. This formula contains d-pinitol, which is a form of inositol called "3-O-methyl-D-chiro-inositol". It is thought to be more potent than ordinary inositol. This formula also contains chromium and vitamin D, which are very important for improving insulin function, among other things. This product is more expensive than inositol but provides a more comprehensive and potent approach. 2 - 4 capsules daily is a suggested dosage.

Earlier newsletter discussions of inositol:

Inositol Improves Ovulation and Hormone Balance in PCOS Women.
More Good News about Inositol and Pinitol for PCOS.
d-Pinitol Effective for Blood Sugar Reduction.

Source:
Papaleo E et al Myo-inositol may improve oocyte quality in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. A prospective, controlled, randomized trial, Fertil Steril. 2008 May 5. [Epub ahead of print]

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2) Young Women Are Low in Vitamin D

We are concerned by the continuing evidence that many women have a vitamin D insufficiency.

Vitamin D is important for improved fertility, controlling weight, reducing insulin resistance, avoiding bone loss, mood and cognition, and reduction of breast cancer risk.

The University of Texas has just reported their study of 800 women between the ages of 16 and 33. You would think that living in sunny Texas would provide plenty of vitamin D from sunlight. Well, this study indicates otherwise…they found that high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among young women.

The researchers concluded: "Favorable environmental conditions do not result in sufficient vitamin D status for young women, especially non-Hispanic blacks, Hispanics, and the obese."

Please keep in mind that women with PCOS tend to have lower vitamin D levels than other women.

We advise you to take supplemental vitamin D or get a blood test to check your vitamin D level.

Useful links:

d-Pinitol formula that contains 600 IU of vitamin D per capsule
Link Between Liver Disease and Low Vitamin D?
Is Vitamin D a "Missing Link" in PCOS?
Vitamin D and Fertility
Vitamin D for PCOS
Help Prevent Insulin Resistance with Vitamin D

Source:
Mckinney K et al Association of race, body fat, and season with vitamin D status among young women: A cross-sectional study, Clin Endocrinol (Oxf), 2008 [Epub ahead of print]

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3) Do Insulin-Sensitizing Drugs Improve Your Health?

Because insulin dysfunction is a probable root cause of polycystic ovary syndrome, your doctor may have prescribed metformin (Glucophage) or some other insulin-sensitizing drug.

They are prescribed because they help to restore ovulation, fertility and reduce PCOS symptoms. However they have side effects and at least one has been withdrawn from the market.

We know that insulin-sensitizing drugs like metformin may improve insulin action and reduce heart disease risk, but they are not necessarily "healthy".

A professor from Northwestern University recently concluded in his recent study of these drugs: "Although ISDs [insulin-sensitizing drugs] improve insulin action and cardiovascular disease risk, there is no evidence that they provide long-term health benefits in PCOS."

We believe that long-term health is best achieved with improved diet, regular exercise, and a healthy, sensible lifestyle. Drugs may relieve symptoms but you cannot assume they actually improve your health.

Sources:
Dunaif A et al, Drug Insight: insulin-sensitizing drugs in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome-a reappraisal, Nat Clin Pract Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Mar 25 [Epub ahead of print]

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Thought for Today: "Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude." -- Denis Waitley