Truth is we’ve been delaying this article for a while until we had enough information & facts to allow us to enlighten our readers. Hopefully by the end of this article you’ll have no doubts about this subject.
What Is Inositol?
Inositol, also known as vitamin B8, naturally occurs in a variety of foods such as fruits, grains, nuts, beans, and organ meats. It is a type of sugar alcohol with half the sweetness of table sugar (sucrose). Though often referred to as vitamin B8, inositol is considered a pseudovitamin simply because it is not an essential nutrient.1 Its presence is vital in the body but a deficiency does not translate to an actual medical condition.
Besides, the body can easily synthesize it from glucose. Vitamins are considered essential nutrients because the body cannot synthesize enough of them to meet bodily needs and therefore must be obtained from food and supplements.
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is complex heterogeneous disorder that has several aspects in terms of pathology such as metabolic, endocrine, reproductive, and psychological.
Several studies suggest that insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism play a central role in the progression of PCOS pathophysiology. Recent studies have recommended some nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and vitamin-like nutrients for the therapy of PCOS because each has at least one functional property in PCOS-induced pathways. This review aims to provide a critical literature survey on nutritional supplementation for the treatment of PCOS-associated endocrine and metabolic dysfunctions and discuss the role of nutrients in the management of PCOS in view of the clinical trials and experimental studies.
Understanding Pcos
Referred to as polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects around 5% of women of reproductive age. Many times, women find out that they have the syndrome when they are trying to get pregnant. Pcos affects the ovarian and menstrual cycle in that it disrupts the body’s ability to convert androgens.
Little sacs might show up on the ovaries, but surprisingly these aren’t actually cysts. Other symptoms of PCOS come from excess androgens, including thicker, coarser hair in areas that don’t normally have a lot of hair (otherwise known as hirsutism) and acne. Symptoms of PCOS include:
No periods, irregular periods, or periods that have a few months in between
Issues getting pregnant (this is due to long and irregular ovulation cycles)
Excess (and usually coarse) hair in certain places, like on the face, back, chest, or buttocks
Weight gain
Thinning hair
Oily skin
PCOS individuals commonly report weight gain as a symptom, which can affect fertility and insulin properties.
Therefore, the body is unable to regulate the natural production of insulin and disrupts weight and metabolism function.
The Importance Of Vitamin B8 For Fertility
As a supplement on its own, vitamin Bs are often recommended for maintaining optimal health and well-being.