Inositol and human reproduction. From cellular metabolism to clinical use

Abstract

Inositol is an organic compound of high biological importance that is widely distributed in nature. It belongs to the sugar family and is mainly represented by its two dominant stereoisomers: myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol that are found in the organism in the physiological serum ratio 40:1. Inositol and its derivatives are important components of the structural phospholipids of the cell membranes and are precursors of the second messengers of many metabolic pathways. A high concentration of myoinositol is found in the follicular fluid and in semen. Inositol deficiency and the impairment of the inositol-dependent pathways may play an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and hypothyroidism. The results of the research also point out the potential beneficial role of inositol supplementation in polycystic ovarian syndrome and in the context of assisted reproduction technologies and in vitro fertilization. The main aim of the article is to overview the major inositol-dependent metabolic pathways and to discuss its importance for reproduction.

Chinese abstract

肌醇是在自然界广泛存在的具有高度生物学重要性的有机化合物。它属于糖类家族, 其代表性的两类立体异构体是肌醇和D-手性肌醇。两者在生物体的生理血清中的比例是40:1.肌醇及其衍生物是细胞膜的磷脂结构的重要组分, 同时也是许多代谢途径中第二信使的前体。研究发现, 在卵泡液和精液中有着高浓度的肌醇, 肌醇缺乏和肌醇依赖性代谢通路的损害可能在胰岛素抵抗和甲状腺功能减退的发病机制中发挥重要作用。研究结果还指出肌醇补充在多囊卵巢综合征在接受辅助生殖技术及体外受精时的潜在有益作用。本文的主要目的是概述主要的肌醇依赖性代谢途径, 并讨论其对生殖的重要性。

Keywords:

• Assisted reproductive technologies
• D-chiro-inositol
• insulin resistance
• myo-inositol
• polycystic ovary syndrome

Declaration of interest

The authors declare to have no Conflict of Interest.