A Randomised Clinical Trial Comparing Myoinositol and Metformin in PCOS
A Randomised Clinical Trial Comparing Myoinositol and Metformin in PCOS
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20171563
Original Research Article
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, SCB Medical College, Cuttack, Odisha, India
*Correspondence:
Dr. Sujata Misra,
E-mail: [email protected]
Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
ABSTRACT
Background: The medical management of PCOS is fast changing from the combination hormonal pills/progesterone
for cycle regularisation, cosmetological treatment of acne and hirsutism to management of obesity and insulin
resistance. This study evaluates the effects of the insulin sensitisers in improving the clinical and hormonal alterations
in cases of PCOS and improving the reproductive outcomes.
Methods: This 3-arm prospective randomized comparative study was done from August 2015 to July 2016 in the
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at SCB MCH, Cuttack wherein patients of PCOS were studied based on
treatment with metformin, myoinositol or both.
Results: Myoinositol helped in the resumption of spontaneous menstrual cycles in 66.66% of women with PCOS with
menstrual complaints, whereas the same effect in patients who took metformin was only in 15.78%, which was not
significant. Use of myoinositol in Infertile women with PCOS resulted in a pregnancy in 57.14% of women, without
the need of any ovulation inducing agent while use of metformin gave a pregnancy in all the 9 patients, thought 5 out
of them required clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction. With myoinositol there was a reduction in weight, BMI,
LH/FSH ratio, acne and hirsutism. Metformin has resulted in a decrement of body weight, BMI and acne only.
Conclusions: This study conclusively proves that myoinositol has a definitive role in decreasing the ovarian
dysfunction of PCOS. There has been a significant improvement in the symptom profile, weight loss and a significant
change in the hormonal parameters.
It is a 3-arm prospective randomized comparative study Clinically, weight, height, waist/hip ratio and BP was
where patients were assigned into Group A, B and C based measured along with examination for Hirsutism.
on computer generated numbers. It was an equivalence
trial where the null hypothesis was that both myoinositol Ultrasound was done to diagnose PCOS, ovarian volume,
and metformin are equally effective in PCOS. endometrial thickness was noted. In the 3rd and 4th month,
a mid-cycle ultrasound was done to look for spontaneous
The sample size was calculated based on the formula, ovulation.
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Table 1: Comparison of FSH, LH and LH/ FSH and comparison of Fasting insulin, FBS and FBS/insulin ratio
between the three groups.
Groups
Myoinositol Metformin Myoinositol+Metformin P value
Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD
FSH 5.63 0.97 5.14 1.55 5.83 1.31 0.160
LH 13.43 6.68 12.59 9.47 14.87 3.49 0.539
LH/FSH 2.33 0.98 2.44 1.68 2.64 0.77 0.682
F.Insulin 13.55 5.03 18.70 7.42 17.30 6.72 0.015*
FBS 90.69 9.51 86.51 25.03 93.82 12.77 0.342
FBS/Ins 7.48 2.36 11.82 22.47 6.39 3.25 0.332
p value for Fasting Insulin: 0.015
Table 2: Comparison of ovarian volume on the right and left side between the three groups.
Groups
Myoinositol Metformin Myoinositol + Metformin P value
Mean SD Mean SD Mean SD
Ovarian Volume Right 10.92 4.93 11.33 4.08 10.03 3.40 0.551
Ovarian Volume Left 12.45 3.72 10.78 3.47 12.48 2.93 0.124
p value: 0.551 and 0.124 for both ovaries
Comparison of FSH, LH, LH/FSH showed a p value >0.05 matching in selection of subjects with respect to the same
in all the 3 parameters This ensures matching in selection (Table 1).
of subjects with respect to hormonal levels. The mean
fasting insulin was higher in metformin group (18.7±7.42) The comparison of ovarian volume on right and left side
than in other two groups. between three groups was not of any stastical significance
(Table 2). On comparison of the patient profile and
p value for FBS and FBS/insulin ratio were 0.342 and anthropometry in the three groups, only the p value for
0.332 respectively between three groups. This ensures hirsutism: 0.038 (statistically significant). For all other
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parameters, there is no difference of statistical significance In the metformin group, p value for relief from menstrual
Table 3. On evaluation of the laboratory features and complaints: >0.05 and p value for pregnancy rate <0.001
ultrasound amongst the three groups, only the p value for (Table 6). However, 5 patients out of 9 infertile patients in
fasting insulin 0.015 was statistically significant Table 4. the metformin group had received clomiphene citrate for
ovulation induction.
The primary outcome of relief from menstrual complaints
p value <0.001and that for pregnancy rate p value <0.001
was statistically significant (Table 5).
Before After
P value
Mean SD Mean SD
Weight 59.23 9.070 58.00 8.65 <0.001*
BMI 24.63 3.31 24.06 3.43 <0.001*
LH/FSH 2.32 0.98 2.17 0.92 0.011*
F.Insulin 13.55 5.02 13.55 5.02 -
Ovarian volume right 10.92 4.93 10.92 4.93 -
Ovarian volume left 12.44 3.71 11.91 3.62 0.095
Before After
P value
Mean SD Mean SD
Weight 61.79 5.92 61.04 6.11 0.003*
BMI 25.44 2.67 25.14 2.67 0.004*
LH/FSH 2.43 1.67 2.43 1.67 -
F.Insulin 18.69 7.41 18.69 7.41 -
Ovarian volume right 11.33 4.08 11.33 4.08 -
Ovarian volume left 10.77 3.46 10.77 3.46 -
Before After
P value
Mean SD Mean SD
Weight 67.36 17.87 63.64 13.11 0.005*
BMI 25.01 9.13 25.62 4.02 0.686
LH/FSH 2.63 0.77 2.63 0.77 0.088
F.Insulin 17.29 6.71 15.78 5.69 0.019*
Ovarian volume right 10.02 3.39 10.02 3.39 -
Ovarian volume left 12.48 2.92 12.48 2.92 -
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In the group on both drugs, the p value for relief of hirsutism and acne in the treated patients. No change was
menstrual complaints was <0.001 and the p value for demonstrated in fasting insulin levels and ovarian volume.
pregnancy rate: <0.001 (statistically significant in both)
Table 7. In Group B (n= 28) in which patients received 1g
metformin per day, only 15.78% (p>0.05) patients with
Secondary outcome measures in myoinositol group menstrual complaints had improvement, whereas all
showed significant p values for weight, BMI and LH/FSH. patients with Infertility reported a pregnancy (p<0.001).
No significant effect was seen on fasting insulin and But 5 out of the 9 patients of infertility had taken
ovarian volume (Table 8). clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction. This factor is a
confounding factor in the interpretation of this result.
Secondary outcome measures in metformin group p value
for weight and BMI was statistically significant. No A significant decrement was demonstrated only in body
change was seen on LH/FSH, fasting insulin and ovarian weight, BMI and acne. There was no change in hirsutism,
volume on either sides (Table 9). LH/FSH ratio, fasting insulin and ovarian volume.
Secondary outcome measures in myoinositol+metformin In Group C (n= 22), patients received both myoinositol and
group showed statistically significant difference in weight metformin 1g each per day. 57.14% (p<0.001) patients
and fasting insulin. No significant effect was seen on BMI, with menstrual complaints resumed spontaneous regular
LH/FSH ratio and ovarian volume on both sides (Table cycles and all patients with infertility reported a pregnancy
10). (p<0.001).
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Metformin use in women with PCOS with Infertility in my 2. Liang SJ, Liou TH, Lin HW, Hsu CS, Tzeng CR, Hsu
study gave a pregnancy in all the 9 patients, but 5 out of MI. Obesity is the predictor of impaired glucose
them required clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction. tolerance and metabolic disturbance in polycystic
Hence, the actual pregnancy rate in the group for ovary syndrome. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand.
metformin alone could not be assessed since clomiphene 2012;91(10):1167-72.
was the confounding factor. 3. Fritz MA, Speroff L. Clinical Gynecologic
Endocrinology and Infertility, 8th edition (Lippincott
With regard to the secondary outcome measures, Williams and Wilkins; 2010:505.
myoinositol has resulted in a significant reduction of more 4. Ravn P, Haugen AG, Glintborg D. Overweight in
parameters than metformin. With myoinositol there was a polycystic ovary syndrome. An update on evidence
reduction in weight, BMI, LH/FSH ratio, acne and based advice on diet, exercise and metformin use for
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weight, BMI and acne only. This finding perhaps supports 5. Palomba S, Falbo A, La Sala GB. Metformin and
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The above-mentioned findings show a more favourable myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol reduces the risk of
response of PCOS women to myoinositol compared to metabolic disease in PCOS overweight patients
metformin. But more studies with a bigger sample size and compared to myo-inositol supplementation alone. Eur
longer follow-up are required to establish the accurate Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2012;16(5):575-81.
results. 7. Lujan ME, Chizen DR, Pierson RA. Diagnostic
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When used in Infertility, an optimum ratio of myoinositol controversies. J Obstet Gynaecol Can.
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This study conclusively proves that myoinositol has a Capper F, Crowley RK et al. Hyperandrogenemia
definitive role in decreasing the ovarian dysfunction of predicts metabolic phenotype in polycystic ovary
PCOS. There has been a significant improvement in the syndrome: the utility of serum androstenedione. J Clin
symptom profile, weight loss and a significant change in Endocrinol Metab. 2014;99(3):1027-36.
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In the combination group, the results obtained are similar ovary syndrome. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2014
to that of myoinositol alone. And when compared to the Sep;7(5):623-31.
results obtained with metformin alone, it seems likely that 11. Ciotta L, Stracquadanio M, Pagano I, Carbonaro A,
the results obtained in the combination group could be due Palumbo M, Gulino F. Effects of myo-inositol
to the myoinositol component. Results have been fairs supplementation on oocyte's quality in PCOS patients:
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Funding: No funding sources 2012;64(1):23-9.
Conflict of interest: None declared 14. Costantino D, Minozzi G, Minozzi E, Guaraldi C.
Ethical approval: The study was approved by the Metabolic and hormonal effects of Myoinositol in
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