Inositol supplementation and IVF outcome: preliminary data

Abstract

Myo-Inositol (MI) is involved in several aspects of human reproduction. Elevated concentrations of myo-inositol in human follicular fluids, in fact, seem to play a positive role in follicular maturity, since to represent a possible marker of good oocyte quality. Nevertheless its positive role in PCOS patients is a consequence of a defect in the insulin signaling (inositol- containing phosphoglycan mediators) pathway that seems to be implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of myo-inositol supplementation to “standard” therapy in PCOS women and in “poor responders”, submitted to In Vitro Fecundation (IVF) cycles. In particular, we have investigated its influence on ovarian response to hormonal stimulation and on oocytes quality. Preliminary results of our study, anyway, appear in contrast with results of previous studies; supplementation with MI, in fact, do not seem to improve the response neither in PCOS patients nor in poor responders.