Aida Azizii, a 25-year-old personal assistant from London, has reported a dramatic transformation, losing 84 pounds in six months after incorporating the supplement inositol into her routine. Azizii struggled for nearly a decade with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that affects an estimated one in 10 women and can cause symptoms such as weight gain, irregular periods, and facial hair growth.
Azizii had previously been prescribed metformin, a medication used to manage type 2 diabetes and also prescribed for PCOS, but experienced debilitating side effects like nausea. After discontinuing the medication, she found her weight spiraled, describing a constant feeling of hunger. At 294 pounds and a size 18 dress size, she sought a solution.
She discovered inositol, a natural supplement also known as Vitamin B8, online. After consulting with her doctor, she began taking a single 1g capsule daily. Within weeks, she reported a significant reduction in cravings for sugary foods. As she continued to lose weight, she gradually increased her dosage to four capsules per day, an amount studied for its potential weight loss benefits.
Over the course of a year, Azizii lost nine stone, reaching 168 pounds and a size six dress size. She stated that inositol changed her life, offering results where prescription drugs and various diets had previously failed.
Research is beginning to support the anecdotal evidence surrounding inositol. A recent review of studies involving over 400 patients, published in the journal Clinical Endocrinology, suggests that inositol may help rebalance hormones in women with PCOS. Researchers theorize that this hormonal regulation could potentially alleviate symptoms such as excess hair growth and fertility issues, though they emphasize that further research is required to confirm these effects.
Inositol is naturally consumed in small quantities through diet and is believed to play a role in hormone regulation. Concentrated doses in supplement form have been promoted by some for appetite suppression and craving control, with others suggesting benefits for fertility and pain relief. Medical research into inositol began about a decade ago, with scientists investigating its potential to mimic the effects of metformin by influencing insulin levels. Dr. Channa Jayasena, a reproductive endocrinologist at Imperial College London, noted that both inositol and metformin affect insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar. He indicated a growing acceptance within the medical community of inositol's potential weight-loss effects.
Studies published in 2017 indicated that women with PCOS who took inositol experienced weight loss comparable to those taking metformin. Further analysis of nine trials in the same year concluded that women with the condition who supplemented with inositol for over 24 weeks showed greater metabolic improvements, including weight loss and reduced blood sugar, compared to those who did not.
However, some experts remain cautious. Professor Naveed Sattar, a metabolic expert at the University of Glasgow, stated that the research is still relatively new and not yet definitive. He suggested that individuals who believe they lost weight due to inositol might actually be attributing their success to concurrent lifestyle changes like dieting and exercise.