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Inositol Supplementation to Treat PCOS (INSUPP-PCOS)

Inositol Supplementation to Treat Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Double Blind Dose Ranging RCT (INSUPP-PCOS)

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03864068
Acronym
INSUPP-PCOS
Enrollment
154
Registered
2019-03-06
Start date
2020-01-24
Completion date
2025-12-10
Last updated
2026-10-28

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Anovulation, Hyperandrogenism, Insulin Resistance, Glucose Intolerance, Metabolic Complication

Keywords

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Anovulation, Hyperandrogenism, Insulin Resistance, Glucose Intolerance, Metabolic Complication

Brief summary

To determine if Inositol, a dietary supplement, will improve ovarian and adrenal androgen excess in women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome(PCOS).

Detailed description

This trial will test prospectively the effects of inositol supplementation in a dose ranging double blind randomized controlled trial, according to CONSORT guidelines. This will be a four armed study of three doses of inositol vs. placebo over a three month period with the reduction in hyperandrogenism (based on serum testosterone levels) as the primary outcome and key secondary outcomes of the change in sex hormone binding globulin(SHBG) and the related free androgen index, fasting insulin levels and area under the curve glucose levels from an oral glucose challenge test (OGTT). The hypothesis is that women with PCOS who receive inositol supplementation will have a dose related reduction in hyperandrogenism. Further, we propose that the primary mechanism of inositol will be a significant improvement in hyperandrogenism (both ovarian and adrenal) vs. placebo, as documented by a lower free androgen index \[decreased total testosterone and increased sex hormone blinding globulin (SHBG)\], lower sebum measures and lower antral follicle counts of the ovary and anti-Mullerian hormone, all of which will correlate with the decrease in hyperandrogenism.

Interventions

OTHERPlacebo

Placebo

1gm/bid, 2gm/bid or 3gm/bid of Inositol powder

Sponsors

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
CollaboratorNIH

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

Placebo Group; Active Treatment with Inositol 1gm/bid; Active Treatment with Inositol 2gm/bid; Active Treatment with Inositol 3gm/ bid

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Women with chronic anovulation or oligomenorrhea defined as spontaneous intermenstrual periods of greater than or equal to 45 days or a total of less than or equal to 8 menses per year. * Women with Hyperandrogenism defined as a total testosterone greater than 50 ng/dL or a free androgen index greater than 10. * Women with Polycystic Ovaries on Ultrasound defined as either 12 or more follicles measuring 2-9 mm in diameter or increased ovarian volume greater than 10 cm.

Exclusion criteria

* Women with Hyperprolactinemia defined as 2 prolactin levels at least one week apart greater than 30 ng/mL. * Women with known 21-hydroxylase deficiency or other enzyme deficiency leading to the congenital adrenal hyperplasia. * Women with elevated FSH levels greater than 10 mIU/mL. * Women with uncorrected thyroid disease as per ASRM guidelines for nonpregnant subjects (TSH less than 0.45 mIU/mL or greater than 4.5 MIU/mL). * Women with a suspected adrenal or ovarian tumor secreting androgens * Women with Cushing's syndrome * Women on confounding medications which affect ovarian function including metformin, hormonal contraceptives or other medications for type 2 diabetes * Women with medical conditions that are contraindications to OTC inositol or previous allergic reactions to the supplement or to the placebo maltodextrin or inulin.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Total Testosterone3 months (baseline, 1 month and 3 month visits)Total testosterone levels measured at baseline, 1 month, and 3 month visits.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
SHBG3 months (baseline, 1 month and 3 month visits)Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels measured at baseline, 1 month, and 3 month visits.
Free Androgen Index (FAI)3 months (baseline, 1 month and 3 month visits)Free Androgen Index calculated at baseline, 1 month, and 3 month visits. FAI is calculated as (testosterone/SHBG)\*100 (after converting testosterone to the same units as SHBG)
Area Under the Curve (AUC) of Glucose3 months (baseline and 3 month visits)AUC of a 2-hour 75g glucose tolerance test, which measures glucose at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes. AUC was calculated at baseline and 3 month visit.
Fasting Insulin3 months (baseline and 3 month visits)Fasting insulin levels measured at baseline and 3 month visit.

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORRichard S. Legro, M.D.

Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey Medical Center

Baseline characteristics

Characteristic—
Age, Continuous29.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.9
BMI status
<30 kg/m2
8 Participants
BMI status
>=30 kg/m2
18 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
9 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
21 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
3 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
20 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
24 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
EG003
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 260 / 240 / 240 / 25
other
Total, other adverse events
16 / 2618 / 2414 / 2413 / 25
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 260 / 240 / 240 / 25

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Oct 29, 2026