Expression of Concern: Comparison of myo‐inositol and metformin on clinical, metabolic and genetic parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Summary Objective To our knowledge, data on comparison of myo‐inositol and metformin on clinical, metabolic and genetic parameters in subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS ) are limited. This study was carried out to compare myo‐inositol and metformin on clinical, metabolic and genetic parameters in subjects with PCOS . Design, patients and measurements: This randomized controlled trial was conducted among 60 subjects with PCOS aged 18‐40 years. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either myo‐inositol (N=30) or metformin (N=30) for 12 weeks. Gene expression of inflammatory cytokines was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMC s) of PCOS women by RT ‐ PCR . Results After the 12‐week intervention, compared with metformin, myo‐inositol intake significantly decreased serum total testosterone (−1.4±4.2 vs +0.7±1.4 nmol/L, P =.03), modified Ferriman‐Gallwey ( mF ‐G) scores (−1.1±0.7 vs −0.5±0.8, P =.01) and serum high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐ CRP ) levels (−2.6±3.9 vs +0.2±1.5 mg/L, P <.001). RT ‐ PCR demonstrated that compared with metformin, myo‐inositol downregulated gene expression of interleukin‐1 ( IL ‐1) ( P =.02) in PBMC s of subjects with PCOS . We did not observe any significant effect of myo‐inositol intake compared with metformin on other hormonal profiles, plasma nitric oxide ( NO ) or gene expression of IL ‐8 and tumour necrosis factor alpha ( TNF ‐α). Conclusions Overall, taking myo‐inositol, compared with metformin, for 12 weeks in patients with PCOS with hyperinsulinism and normoinsulinism had beneficial effects on total testosterone, mFG scores, serum hs‐ CRP levels and gene expression of IL ‐1, but did not affect other hormonal profiles, NO levels or gene expression of IL ‐8 and TNF ‐α.