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Altered Ovarian Inositol Ratios May Account for Pathological Steroidogenesis in PCOS
oleh: Vittorio Unfer, Simona Dinicola, Antonio Simone LaganĂ , Mariano Bizzarri
Format: | Article |
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Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2020-09-01 |
Deskripsi
The presence of abnormal ovarian ratios of myo-inositol (MI) to <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">D</span>-chiro-inositol (DCI) is a recurrent feature in PCOS. Available evidence suggests that MI and DCI may modulate steroid biosynthesis, likely in an opposite manner. Specifically, MI seems to induce estrogen production, while DCI has a role in the synthesis of androgens. Elevated insulin levels, generally associated with PCOS, alter the physiological MI/DCI ratio, increasing MI-to-DCI conversion through activation of a specific epimerase enzyme. DCI directly increases testosterone biosynthesis in thecal cells and reduces its conversion to estradiol by downregulating aromatase enzyme in granulosa cells. This manuscript reviews the literature that supports the connection between altered MI/DCI ratios and pathological steroidogenesis observed in PCOS women. Furthermore, it discusses the application of inositol-based treatment protocols in managing PCOS symptoms and improving the quality of patients’ life.