Monday 10 March 2008

PCOS helped by vitamin B therapy

A recent study was undertaken among women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome. It was hypothesised, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy, that intervention using an isoform of inositol (myo-inositol), belonging to the vitamin B complex, would improve the insulin-receptor activity, restoring normal ovulatory function.

PCOS is often characterized by lack of ovulation or an absence of periods. In addition, 30-40% of PCOS women have impaired glucose tolerance, and a defect in the insulin signaling pathway seems to be implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. PCOS patients are subfertile as a consequence of such ovulatory disorders, which makes pregnancy very difficult and often need drugs, such as clomiphene citrate or follicle-stimulating hormone, for ovulation induction, which increases the risk of multiple pregnancy and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

The outcome of the study demonstrated that twenty-two out of the 25 (88%) patients restored at least one spontaneous menstrual cycle during treatment, of whom 18 (72%) maintained normal ovulatory activity during the follow-up period and a total of 10 pregnancies (40% of patients) were obtained.

It is known says, UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, that vitamin therapy as well and dietary changes can help with PCOS and glucose tolerance.

To find out more, please contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT). Melody offers pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2.