Myo-inositol and melatonin in the menopausal transition

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects on serum insulin and serum thyroid profile of a dietary supplement, myo-inositol, given alone or in combination with melatonin to women during menopausal transition.

Methods: Forty women aged 45–55 years and at least 6 months of amenorrhea were enrolled in this study. They were randomly assigned to two groups of 20 each. One group took myo-inositol (myo-Ins) (2 g twice a day) and the other group took 2 g/d myo-Ins plus 3 g/d melatonin before sleeping. At the beginning of the study and after 6 months, all women were evaluated for the following indices: waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, endometrial thickness, as well as serum concentrations of TSH, FT3, FT4 and insulin.

Results: Both at baseline and at 6 months, the two groups were statistically similar for each of the considered indices. If percent changes (Δ%, 6 months over baseline) are contrasted in the two groups, serum TSH decreased in the myo-Ins group but increased in the latter, while serum insulin decreased in both groups.

Conclusions: The combination of myo-Ins plus melatonin seems to affect positively glucose metabolism, while myo-Ins only seems to improve thyroid function.

Chinese abstract

前言: 该研究的目的是评估在绝经过渡期间肌醇作为膳食补充剂单独或与褪黑激素联合给予妇女对血清胰岛素和血清甲状腺谱的影响。

方法: 四十名年龄在45-55岁和至少闭经6个月的妇女参加了这项研究。他们被随机分配到两组, 每组20人。一组在睡前服用肌醇 ( myo-Ins) ( 2g, 每天2次) , 另一组在睡前服用2g/d肌醇+ 3g/d褪黑激素。在研究开始和6个月后, 对所有妇女评价以下指标: 腰围、体重指数、血压、子宫内膜厚度、以及血清TSH、FT3、FT4和胰岛素浓度。

结果: 在基线和6个月时, 两组在每个所考虑的指数上具有统计学相似性。如果在两组中比较百分比变化 ( Δ%, 超过基线6个月) , 血清TSH在肌醇组中降低, 在后组中升高, 然而血清胰岛素在两组中均降低。

结论: 肌醇加褪黑激素的组合似乎影响正葡萄糖代谢, 而肌醇似乎只能改善甲状腺功能。

Keywords:

• Insulin
• melatonin
• menopause
• myo-inositol
• thyroid

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.