Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40235665›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in endocrinology2025

Unexpected effects of treating insulin-resistant obese women with high-dose D-chiro-inositol: opening Pandora's box.

Sabrina Basciani, Maurizio Nordio, Maria Letizia Spizzichini, Lucio Gnessi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in endocrinology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Sabrina BascianiSection of Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Maurizio NordioDepartment of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Maria Letizia SpizzichiniSection of Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Lucio GnessiSection of Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: The combination of lifestyle changes and nutraceuticals, such as inositols, can reduce excess weight, leading to a reduction in insulin resistance and a normalization of the metabolic profile. As such, this study investigated the metabolic and hormonal changes observed in women who were overweight/obese with insulin resistance undergoing a hypocaloric Mediterranean diet combined with high-dose D-chiro-inositol (DCI) treatment. Methods: In total, 48 insulin-resistant women between 25 and 40 years old, with a body mass index (BMI) between 26 and 32 were divided into two groups: both groups followed a hypocaloric Mediterranean diet for 4 months, and patients in the treated group also underwent treatment with 2400 mg/day of DCI for the same period. We evaluated the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index, body weight, BMI, blood glucose, fasting insulin, lipid profile [cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides] and hormonal profile [total testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and menstrual length] at baseline and at the end of treatment. Results: After 4 months, both groups displayed a significant improvement in insulin sensitivity, as reflected by a reduction in the HOMA index, blood glucose level, fasting insulin level, and lipid profile. Furthermore, we observed a significant decrease in body weight and BMI in both groups. However, the evaluation of the hormonal profiles revealed unexpected findings, with the DCI-supplemented group exhibiting hyperandrogenism and menstrual irregularity, as demonstrated by the significant increase of total testosterone, androstenedione, LH, and menstrual length. Conclusion: The study strengthens the evidence regarding the metabolic benefits of the hypocaloric Mediterranean diet, independent from the association with DCI, on women with insulin resistance and excess weight, while also acknowledging the complex hormonal impact of high-dose DCI supplementation for medium-to-long periods.

Indexed as

InositolInsulin ResistanceObesityAdultBlood GlucoseBody Mass IndexDiet, MediterraneanFemaleHumansBlood GlucoseInositolD-chiro-inositolhyperandrogenisminsulin resistancelifestylemenstrual regularityobesity

Identifiers

PMID40235665
PMCPMC11997692

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