d-Pinitol

Each capsule contains:
d-Pinnitol (3-O-methyl-D-chiro-inositol)  600 mg
Chromium (polynicotinate)    250 mcg
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)     600 IU 

Suggested Dosage:
1–2 capsules twice daily with meals. 

Additional Information:

The d-Pinitol component of this formula is a naturally occurring compound, not a drug. The technical name for d-Pinitol is "3-O-methyl-D-chiro-inositol". D-Pinitol is converted into d-chiro-inositol in the body.

This formula also contains chromium. In a small study, six women with PCOS took 1000 mcg of chromium picolinate for two months, at which time their glucose disposal (insulin sensitivity) had improved by an average of 35%, and their baseline insulin levels fell by 22%. Chromium improves the effectiveness of insulin.

This formula also contains vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency appears to occur in women with PCOS and may contribute to some of the biochemical abnormalities seen in this condition.

In a study of 13 women with PCOS, five were found to have obvious vitamin D deficiency and three others had borderline-low vitamin D status. All 13 women were treated with vitamin D and calcium. Of the nine women with absent or irregular menstruation prior to vitamin D treatment, seven experienced normalization of their menstrual cycles within two months and the other two became pregnant. Dysfunctional uterine bleeding also resolved.

Low vitamin D has been linked to insulin resistance, obesity and fatty liver degeneration.

Functions of vitamin D include improved insulin sensitivity, better bone health, reduction of inflammation, and longer lifespan.

This formula represents a synergistic strategy to promote, improve and support ovarian health and insulin sensitivity, resulting in better overall health.

This product is independently tested for authenticity, potency and purity.

Pinitol and PCOS

"D-chiro inositol" was the object of much excitement a few years ago in PCOS circles because a study showed it improved ovulation, reduced testosterone levels and insulin resistance.

However, it is very difficult to find D-chiro inositol in the marketplace. And even if you can find it, it can cost $145 for a 60-capsule bottle. Fortunately, there may be a solution to this problem.

Pinitol is another form of inositol that is very similar to D-chiro inositol. The chemical name of pinitol is "3-O-methyl- D-chiro-inositol". Pinitol is commercially available and is featured in our online store.

D-Chiro-Inositol

D-chiro-inositol, a relative of common inositol (a B vitamin), is found in small concentrations in the human body and in some foods.

It is a compound that has been reported to affect the action of insulin.

There is evidence that the insulin resistance seen in women with PCOS is due in part to a deficiency of D-chiro-inositol or to a defect in its utilization in the tissues.  If these abnormalities can be reversed by supplementation with D-chiro-inositol, then this compound might be beneficial for women with PCOS.

To test that possibility, 44 obese women with PCOS were randomly assigned to receive, in double-blind fashion, D-chiro-inositol (1,200 mg once a day) or placebo for eight weeks.

Supplementation with D-chiro-inositol resulted in an improvement in insulin resistance and a 55% reduction in testosterone levels compared to the placebo group.

Significantly more women ovulated in the D-chiro-inositol group than in the placebo group (86% vs. 27%). D-chiro-inositol supplementation decreased testosterone levels and improved ovulatory function, presumably by enhancing the action of insulin.

What Is Pinitol?

Pinitol (3-O-methyl- D-chiro-inositol) is an inositol compound with a chemical structure and biochemical actions similar to D-chiro-inositol.

Like D-chiro-inositol, pinitol appears to influence the action of insulin.(3) Moreover, pinitol is probably converted to D-chiro-inositol in the body, as demonstrated by a 14-fold increase in the levels of D-chiro-inositol after administration of pinitol to diabetic patients at a dose of 20 mg per kg of body weight per day for four weeks.

In a double-blind study of patients with type 2 diabetes, administration of 600 mg of pinitol twice a day for three months reduced blood glucose concentration by 19.3%, decreased hemoglobin A1c concentration by 12.4%, and significantly improved insulin resistance.

In a shorter-term double-blind study, administration of pinitol at a dose of 20 mg per kg of body weight per day for four weeks decreased the mean fasting plasma glucose concentration by 5.3%.

Pinitol has not been studied as a treatment for PCOS. However, because an estimated 33% of orally administered pinitol is converted in the body to D-chiro-inositol, and because it appears to have biochemical effects similar to those of D-chiro-inositol, pinitol may be beneficial for women with PCOS.

D-Pinitol May Improve Insulin Sensitivity in PCOS

The majority of women with PCOS are thought to have a condition called "insulin resistance".  It means that your body is not utilizing the hormone insulin in an optimal way.

Recent research has shown that women with PCOS have a problem metabolizing compounds of inositol, a B-vitamin. The result is impaired insulin function and insulin resistance.

There has been a lot of interest in recent years about a nutritional substance called "d-chiro-inositol" or DCI.  DCI appears to improve insulin sensitivity in women who have PCOS.

Without getting too technical, DCI is a component of "inositolphosphoglycan" or IPG. IPG in turn improves the effectiveness of insulin. The problem appears to be that not enough IPG can be produced if there is not enough DCI (d-chiro-inositol).

This concept is supported by a study released in October 2008 by Virginia Commonwealth University.   The researchers conducted a study of 11 women with PCOS. Although the study had to be concluded early because of a sudden unavailability of the d-chiro-inositol, the results were encouraging.

They said "…DCI-IPG release is significantly correlated with improved insulin sensitivity. The significant relationship between DCI-IPG release and insulin sensitivity suggests that the DCI-IPG mediator may be a target for therapeutic interventions in PCOS."

In plain English, they are saying that taking d-chiro-inositol improves insulin function in PCOS. By improving insulin function, you help to remove one of the primary causes of PCOS and all its symptoms.

But there are two problems with d-chiro-inositol: (1) the supply is spotty, and (2) it is very expensive.

That's where d-pinitol comes into the picture. It is a precursor to d-chiro-inositol and is converted by the body into d-chiro-inositol.  So you can increase your d-chiro-inositol levels by taking supplemental d-pinitol.

Secondly, d-pinitol is much less expensive than d-chiro-inositol. The d-pinitol formula at this online store also contains chromium and vitamin D, which are additional nutrients that help to improve insulin function.

d-Pinitol Effective for Blood Sugar Reduction

Pinitol (3-O-methyl-D-chiro-inositol) appears to lower blood sugar (glucose) by helping insulin do its job. It is thought that d-pinitol participates in the insulin signaling pathway.

We came across an interesting study of d-pinitol and people with uncontrolled diabetes.

Doctors at Hong-ik Hospital in South Korea evaluated the effect of pinitol therapy in twenty type 2 diabetic patients who were poorly controlled with hypoglycemic drugs, such as sulfonylurea, metformin and/or insulin. In other words, the drugs these people were taking -- such as metformin -- were not working very well.

The patients took d-pinitol for 12 weeks, at a dose of 20 mg per kilogram of weight. For example, a person weighing 150 lbs. would have taken 1,360 mg of d-pinitol.

After pinitol treatment, they had a reduction in after-meal blood sugar levels, and hemoglobin A1c was significantly decreased. Hemoglobin A1C is a blood marker for your average blood sugar over a 3-month span of time.

What's interesting about this study is that d-pinitol was helpful for people who were not getting good results with drugs such as metformin.

If you cannot tolerate metformin or are not getting results from it, you might consider d-pinitol as an element of your treatment program.

D-Pinitol May Help Cholesterol and Triglyceride Management, and Aid Your Liver

A new study from Annamalai University in India demonstrated that diabetic rats had a reduction in their blood sugar, total cholesterol, and triglycerides when given d-pinitol.  In addition to a lowering of total cholesterol, there was a significant decrease in the "bad" LDL/VLDL cholesterol and an increase in the "good" HDL cholesterol as a result of d-pinitol.

Another rat study from Inje University in Korea showed that d-pinitol had a protective effect on their livers. The d-pinitol appeared to have an anti-oxidant effect and also inhibited inflammation. This study is interesting because women with PCOS tend to have disturbed, dysfunctional livers. The liver-protective aspect of d-pinitol is in addition to its ability to aid in restoration of ovulation and reduction of insulin resistance.

Is D-Pinitol an Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Cancer?

A new report from the University of Texas has shown that d-pinitol has anti-inflammatory properties.

This is important because women with PCOS are more likely to have chronic inflammation. As we discuss in "The Natural Diet Solution for PCOS and Infertility", there is a vicious linkage between body fat, inflammation, insulin resistance and leptin resistance -- which is one reason why PCOS is so challenging to manage. Chronic inflammation also plays a role in cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.

A new report from the University of Texas has shown that d-pinitol suppresses an inflammatory pathway in the body called NF-kappaB. Suppression of NF-kappaB not only suppresses inflammation but also appears to make normal cells less likely to turn into cancer cells.

Safety and Interactions

There are no contraindications for pinitol. No toxicity has been reported.   Due to a lack of long-term safety data, pinitol should be avoided by pregnant women and nursing mothers.

If you are taking anti-depressant drugs, consult with your doctor before taking supplemental pinitol.

How Much Should You Take?

According to two of the studies we cited above, a dose of 1,200 mg of D-chiro inositol daily appeared to be effective.   The effective amount of pinitol isn't entirely clear. Since not all of the pinitol will convert into D-chiro inositol, we can assume a dose in excess of 1,200 mg. would be needed for effect.