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SummaryObjective To our knowledge, data on comparison of myo-inositol and metformin on clinical, metabolic and genetic parameters in subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are limited. This study was carried out to compare myo-inositol and metformin on clinical, metabolic and genetic parameters in subjects with PCOS. Design, Patients and Measurements This randomized controlled trial was conducted among 60 subjects with PCOS aged 18-40 years. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either myo-inositol (N=30) or metformin (N=30) for 12 weeks. Gene expression of inflammatory cytokines was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of PCOS women by RT-PCR. Results After the 12-week intervention, compared with metformin, myo-inositol intake significantly decreased serum total testosterone (-1.4±4.2 vs. +0.7±1.4 nmol/l, P=0.03), modified Ferriman Gallwey (mF-G) scores (-1.1±0.7 vs. -0.5±0.8, P=0.01) and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels (-2.6±3.9 vs. +0.2±1.5 mg/L, P

Objective Limited data are available for evaluating the effects of oral carnitine supplementation on weight loss and metabolic profiles of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study was designed to determine the effects of oral carnitine supplementation on weight loss, and glycaemic and lipid profiles in women with PCOS. Design, Patients and Measurements In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 60 overweight patients diagnosed with PCOS were randomized to receive either 250 mg carnitine supplements (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were obtained at the beginning and the end of the study to quantify parameters of glucose homoeostasis and lipid concentrations. Results At the end of the 12 weeks, taking carnitine supplements resulted in a significant reduction in weight (-2·7 ± 1·5 vs +0·1 ± 1·8 kg, P < 0·001), BMI (-1·1 ± 0·6 vs +0·1 ± 0·7 kg/m2, P < 0·001), waist circumference (WC) (-2·0 ± 1·3 vs -0·3 ± 2·0 cm, P < 0·001) and hip circumference (HC) (-2·5 ± 1·5 vs -0·3 ± 1·8 cm, P < 0·001) compared with placebo. In addition, compared with placebo, carnitine administration in women with PCOS led to a significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose (-0·38 ± 0·36 vs +0·11 ± 0·97 mmol/l, P = 0·01), serum insulin levels (-14·39 ± 25·80 vs +3·01 ± 37·25 pmol/l, P = 0·04), homoeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (-0·61 ± 1·03 vs +0·11 ± 1·43, P = 0·04) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (-3·64 ± 7·00 vs -0·59 ± 3·20 I¼mol/l, P = 0·03). Conclusions Overall, 12 weeks of carnitine administration in PCOS women resulted in reductions in weight, BMI, WC and HC, and beneficial effects on glycaemic control; however, it did not affect lipid profiles or free testosterone. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

To our knowledge, data on comparison of myo-inositol and metformin on clinical, metabolic and genetic parameters in subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are limited. This study was carried out to compare myo-inositol and metformin on clinical, metabolic and genetic parameters in subjects with PCOS.This randomized controlled trial was conducted among 60 subjects with PCOS aged 18-40 years. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either myo-inositol (N=30) or metformin (N=30) for 12 weeks. Gene expression of inflammatory cytokines was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of PCOS women by RT-PCR.After the 12-week intervention, compared with metformin, myo-inositol intake significantly decreased serum total testosterone (-1.4±4.2 vs +0.7±1.4 nmol/L, P=.03), modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mF-G) scores (-1.1±0.7 vs -0.5±0.8, P=.01) and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels (-2.6±3.9 vs +0.2±1.5 mg/L, P.001). RT-PCR demonstrated that compared with metformin, myo-inositol downregulated gene expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) (P=.02) in PBMCs of subjects with PCOS. We did not observe any significant effect of myo-inositol intake compared with metformin on other hormonal profiles, plasma nitric oxide (NO) or gene expression of IL-8 and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α).Overall, taking myo-inositol, compared with metformin, for 12 weeks in patients with PCOS with hyperinsulinism and normoinsulinism had beneficial effects on total testosterone, mFG scores, serum hs-CRP levels and gene expression of IL-1, but did not affect other hormonal profiles, NO levels or gene expression of IL-8 and TNF-α.