Myo-inositol may prevent gestational diabetes in PCOS women

AIMS: To evaluate retrospectively the prevalence of gestational diabetes (GD) in pregnancies obtained with myo-inositol administration in PCOS women.
METHODS: A total of 98 pregnancies in PCOS women obtained in a three-year period, either with myo-inositol (n. 54), or with metformin (n. 44) were considered. While myo-inositol was assumed through the whole pregnancy, the group of women treated with metformin stopped the drug assumption after pregnancy diagnosis, and was considered as a control group. After having eliminated cases of miscarriages and twin pregnancies, a definitive number of 46 women in the myo-inositol group and 37 in the control group was taken in account to be retrospectively evaluated. The primary outcome measure was GD occurrence in both groups; whereas secondary outcome measures were pregnancy outcomes: hypertensive disorders, pre-term birth, macrosomia and caesarean section occurrence.
RESULTS: Prevalence of GD in the myo-inositol group was 17.4% versus 54% in the control group, with a highly significant difference also after adjusting for covariates. Consequently, in the control group the risk of GD occurrence was more than double compared to the myo-inositol group, with an OR 2.4 (CI 95% , 1.3- 4.4). There was no difference between the groups in relation to secondary outcome measures.
CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a possible effect of myo-inositol in the primary prevention of gestational diabetes in PCOS women.