Aida Azizii, a 25-year-old personal assistant from London, has shared her experience of losing six stone in six months by taking inositol, a supplement that is increasingly being studied for its effects on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects an estimated one in ten women and can lead to symptoms such as facial hair growth, irregular periods, and weight gain. Azizii struggled with the condition for nearly a decade, having been prescribed metformin by her doctor at age 16. While metformin aided some weight loss, she experienced severe nausea and was forced to stop taking it, leading to further weight gain.
"After that my weight spiralled. I was eating more and gaining more weight. I always felt starving," Azizii stated. At 25, weighing 21 stone and wearing a size 22 dress, she sought a solution.
Azizii discovered inositol, a type of carbohydrate naturally found in rice, after reading about it online. After consulting her GP, who approved its use, she began taking a single 1g capsule daily. Within weeks, she reported a reduction in cravings for sugary foods. As her weight decreased, she increased her dosage to four capsules a day, the amount often cited in studies for weight loss benefits. Over the course of a year, she lost nine stone, reaching 12 stone and a size ten.
"Inositol changed my life. I’d tried everything, from prescription drugs to every diet you can imagine, and nothing worked like this," Azizii said.
Recent research has begun to support the anecdotal evidence surrounding inositol's benefits for PCOS. A review of studies involving over 400 patients, published in the journal Clinical Endocrinology, indicated that the supplement can help rebalance hormones in women with PCOS. This hormonal rebalancing could potentially alleviate symptoms such as unwanted hair growth and fertility issues, though researchers emphasize that more studies are needed to confirm these effects.
Inositol, sometimes referred to as Vitamin B8, is naturally consumed in small quantities through diet and is believed to play a role in hormone regulation. Concentrated doses in supplement form are thought by some to suppress appetite and curb cravings, while others suggest it may improve fertility and reduce pain. Medical research into inositol began around a decade ago, exploring its potential effects similar to metformin, which helps manage blood sugar levels.
Dr. Channa Jayasena, a reproductive endocrinologist at Imperial College London, noted that both inositol and metformin influence insulin levels. "There’s growing acceptance in the medical community that inositol has some genuine weight-loss effects, so it’s not surprising that it’s catching on," he said.
A 2017 trial found that PCOS patients taking inositol experienced weight loss comparable to those taking metformin. Another analysis of nine trials from the same year concluded that women with PCOS who took inositol for over 24 weeks showed greater metabolic improvements, including weight loss and reduced blood sugar, compared to those who did not.
Consequently, many NHS hospitals now recommend inositol for PCOS patients. "I advised two to start taking myo-inositol [a common form of the supplement] this week," Dr. Jayasena reported.
However, not all medical professionals are convinced. Professor Naveed Sattar, a metabolic expert at the University of Glasgow, expressed caution, stating that research is still relatively new and definitive conclusions cannot yet be drawn. He suggested that reported weight loss might be attributed to concurrent lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, rather than solely to the supplement. 
