Artigo de Inositol

European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences

2014; 18: 1896-1903

Inositol: history of an effective therapy for
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
M. BIZZARRI1, G. CARLOMAGNO2
1
2

Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
LoLiPharma srl, Medical Department, Rome, Italy

Abstract. – Inositol is a physiological compound belonging to the sugar family. The two inositol stereoisomers, myo-inositol and D-chiroinositol are the two main stereisomers present in our body.
Myo-inositol is the precursor of inositol triphosphate, a second messenger regulating many hormones such as TSH, FSH and insulin.
D-chiroinositol is synthetized by an insulin dependent epimerase that converts myo-inositol into D-chiro-inositol. Polycistic Ovary Syndrome
(PCOS) is a metabolic and hormonal disorder and a common cause of infertility. Insulin resistance and the consequent hyperinsulinaemia contribute to hyperandrogenism development, typical marker of PCOS. In these patients myo and/or D-chiro-inositol administration improves insulin sensivity while only myo-inositol is a quality marker for oocytes evaluation.
Myo-inositol produces second messengers for FSH and glucose uptake, while D-chiroinositol provides second messengers promoting glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis. The physiological ratio of these two isomers is 40:1
(MI/DCI) and seems to be an optimal approach for the treatment of PCOS disorders.
Key Words:
Inositol, Polycistic ovary syndrome, PCOS.

Introduction
The history that has led to the widespread use of inositol compounds in the clinical gynecologic practice is a fascinating and complex tale.
In 1850 Johanes Joseph Scherer (1814-1869)1,2 isolated from the muscle a hexahydroxycyclohexane that he named Inositol [from Ancient
Greek stem of ìς (is, in-, “sinew, fiber“), -ose (indicating a carbohydrate), -ite (“ester“), -ol (“an alcohol”)], as it formally belongs to the sugar family3. The