Efficacy of myo‐inositol and zinc on insulin resistance in a paediatric population with obesity

Abstract Aim To assess the efficacy of the combined administration of myo‐inositol and zinc, a mineral involved in the insulin pathway, in paediatric obesity with insulin resistance on HOMA‐IR, glucose‐insulin metabolism, and lipid profile. Materials and Methods Double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled study conducted in North Italy. Fifty‐six patients (10–18 years, Tanner stage ≥3) with obesity and insulin resistance were randomized to myo‐inositol (2000 mg), zinc gluconate (5 mg), and galactooligosaccharides (GOS) from plant‐based origin (1000 mg) (TRT) or placebo (PLC) containing only GOS from plant‐based origin (1000 mg). All patients received an isocaloric diet following the Mediterranean diet style. Data were collected at baseline (V0) and after 3 months (V1). The primary outcome was the insulin resistance index (HOMA‐IR). Results Fifty out of 56 recruited subjects completed the study. TRT improved HDL cholesterol level compared to PLC ( p = 0.05) but not insulin resistance. A stratified post hoc analysis was performed by sex, BMI, and subgroups of adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Subjects were divided for obesity grade, fasting insulin ( p = 0.0137) and HOMA‐IR ( p = 0.0273) were lower in TRT than in PLC patients, with a greater effect on severe obesity. No adverse events were detected. Conclusion Three months of supplementation with myo‐inositol and zinc were beneficial on lipid profile and in managing obesity complications at least in subjects with severe phenotype. Thus, myo‐inositol and zinc could be used as non‐pharmacological agents. This work suggests a long‐term study with a larger sample size to enrich the findings.