D-chiro-inositol, an aromatase down-modulator, increases androgens and reduces estrogens in male volunteers: a pilot study

Background: Androgen deficiency affects men in the adulthood, causing several harmful effects at the reproductive and behavioural levels. Since aromatase is an enzyme that catalyses the conversion of androgens to estrogens, and it is responsible for an adequate balance of both sex hormones in males and females, the administration of molecules acting as down modulators may contribute to restore an abnormal enzymatic activity. A prospective pilot study was carried out to investigate the effect of D-chiro-inositol, a putative aromatase down-modulator, on serum levels of testosterone, estradiol, estrone, dehydroepiandrosterone and epiandrosterone from a group of adult male volunteers. Glucose, insulin, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, inhibin B, D-chiro-inositol and myo-inositol serum levels were also measured. Results: Male volunteers were selected according to age and body mass index. Subjects with altered glycemia and/or hormonal status, due to advanced age or abnormal weight, were enrolled in the study. Each of the 10 volunteers enrolled took oral D-chiro-inositol (1 g/day) for 1 month. Serum assays of selected markers were performed at baseline (control) and after treatment. D-chiro-inositol administration was associated to reduced serum levels of estrone (− 85.0%) and estradiol (− 14.4%), and increased serum levels of testosterone (+ 23.4%) and dehydroepiandrosterone (+ 13.8%). In addition, epiandrosterone levels were higher (+39%) after treatment. On the other hand, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and inhibin B did not change. A trend toward a decrease of glycemia, insulinemia and Homeostatic Model Assessment index was observed after D-chiro-inositol treatment, although differences did not reach statistical significance. D-chiro-inositol treatment did not cause any noticeable adverse effect. Conclusions: Increased androgens and decreased estrogens seem to confirm that D-chiro-inositol acts as an aromatase down-modulator, but with a still unknown mechanism of action. This pilot study opens up new perspectives of research and therapeutic applications for D-chiro-inositol at different dosages and length of treatment. Authorization number 005/2020 released by the Local Ethics Committee of Alma Res Fertility Center, Rome. Trial registration number: NCT04615767 (registry: ClinicalTrials.gov) Date of registration: November 3, 2020Fil: Monastra, Giovanni. Experts Group On Inositol In Basic And Clinical Research; Italia. Systems Biology Group Lab; ItaliaFil: Vazquez, Monica Hebe. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentina. Experts Group On Inositol In Basic And Clinical Research; ItaliaFil: Bezerra Espinola, Maria Salome. Alma Res Fertility Center; Italia. Systems Biology Group Lab; Italia. Experts Group On Inositol In Basic And Clinical Research; ItaliaFil: Bilotta, Gabriele. Alma Res Fertility Center; ItaliaFil: Laganà, Antonio Simone. Università Degli Studi Dell'insubria; Italia. Experts Group On Inositol In Basic And Clinical Research; ItaliaFil: Unfer, Vittorio. Systems Biology Group Lab; Italia. Experts Group On Inositol In Basic And Clinical Research; Itali

Breakthroughs in the use of inositol for Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART)

It is well known that myo-inositol (MI) and D-chiro-inositol (DCI) are insulinsensitizingagents, and MI is of proven utility in polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS). In addition, MI plays a pivotal role in the physiology of reproduction,and has beneficial effects on the development of oocytes, spermatozoa, andembryos. By contrast, DCI has little effect on spermatozoa, but high concentrationsin the ovary can negatively affect the quality of oocytes and the blastocyst.Overall, the evidence in the literature supports the beneficial effects of MI in bothfemale and male reproduction, warranting clinical use of MI in assistedreproductive treatment (ART).Fil: Facchinetti, Fabio. Università Di Modena E Reggio Emilia.; ItaliaFil: Espinola, Maria Salome Bezerra. Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Dewailly, Didier. Inserm; Francia. University Of Lille.; FranciaFil: Ozay, Ali Cenk. Near East University; ChipreFil: Prapas, Nikos. Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki; Grecia. Iakentro Fertility Centre; GreciaFil: Vazquez, Monica Hebe. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Wdowiak, Artur. Medical University Of Lublin; PoloniaFil: Unfer, Vittorio. Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Expert Group on Inositols in Preclinical and Clinical Research. No especifíca;Fil: Appetecchia, Marialuisa. Istituto Nazionale Tumori Regina Elena; ItaliaFil: Aragona, Cesare. Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Bertelli, Matteo. EBTNA Laboratory; Italia. MAGI Laboratory; ItaliaFil: Bevilacqua, Arturo. Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Bizzarri, Mariano. Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Cavalli, Pietro. ASST Cremona. Clinical Genetics; ItaliaFil: Copp, Andrew. Colegio Universitario de Londres; Reino UnidoFil: D'Anna, Rosario. Università Degli Studi Di Messina; ItaliaFil: Greene, Nicholas. Colegio Universitario de Londres; Reino UnidoFil: Marín, Imelda Hernández. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México. Hospital Juarez; MéxicoFil: Kamenov, Zdravko A.. Medical University of Sofia; BulgariaFil: Kandaraki, Eleni. HYGEIA Hospital; GreciaFil: Diamanti Kandarakis, Evanthia. HYGEIA Hospital; GreciaFil: Laganà, Antonio Simone. University of Insubria; ItaliaFil: Monastra, Giovanni. Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Oliva, Mario Montanino. Ospedale Generale Santo Spirito; ItaliaFil: Nestler, John E.. Virginia Commonwealth University; Estados UnidosFil: Papalou, Olga. HYGEIA Hospital; GreciaFil: Pkhaladze, Lali. Ioseb Zhordania Institute of Reproductology; GeorgiaFil: Porcaro, Giusy. Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale Umbria 2.; ItaliaFil: Soulage, Christophe O.. Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1; Francia. Inserm; FranciaFil: Stringaro, Annarita. Istituto Superiore di Sanità ; Itali

An update on the use of inositols in preventing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and neural tube defects (NTDs)

Introductio