A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF METABOLIC AND HORMONAL EFFECTS OF MYOINOSITOL VS METFORMIN IN WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME: A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the study was to find out which drug is more effective in treatment and improvement of metabolic and hormonal parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); Myoinositol or Metformin. This study was conducted since there are very limited studies on the same. Methods: Patients between 15-40 years of age with signs and symptoms of PCOS who attended the outpatient department of obstetrics and gynaecolgy at AVBRH between study period of September, 2012 to August 2014, were subjected to specific investigations to diagnose PCOS. Patients who were diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria were included in the study group. Patients were randomly allocated to treatment with either myoinositol or metformin. Myoinositol group received 1 g twice daily while Metformin group received 500 mg twice daily for 6 months .The findings and investigations were repeated after 6 months and was compared with the baseline values. Results: Treatment with myoinositol and metformin both decreased body mass index, androgenic features, improved menstrual abnormalities and polycystic ovaries but the Level of insulin resistance as measured by fasting insulin and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) decreased only on treatment with myoinositol. Conclusions: Myoinositol acts at the level of insulin receptors and is effective in treatment of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, which is the underlying factor leading to the development of polycystic ovary syndrome.