The Hemp Connection:
androgens

OK. Today's the day. There was finally a quiet morning to read the research about d-chiro inositol. Ever since I posted a link to Sasha Ottey's interview on the topic on her PCOS Challenge radio show, traffic linking to us with that keyword has been very high. I've known we needed a blog post, but I just wanted to be sure it was scientifically accurate and presented information in a way that was beneficial, not hurtful.

What is inositol? It is a chemical that is necessary for several body functions, including: cell structure, insulin function, nerve function, fat breakdown, and maintenance of healthy cholesterol levels.

Inositol comes in nine different forms. Two of those types of inositol, myo-inositol and d-chiro-inositol, have been found to have therapeutic value. Myo-inositol supplementation has been found to alleviate symptoms of bulimia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, agoraphobia, depression, and bipolar disorder. d-chiro-inositol supplementation has been found to be useful for symptoms associated with insulin, high androgen levels, and menstrual irregularity. It is also reported that myoinositol can help prevent hair loss.

Both categories of symptoms are common in PCOS, so it appears that inositol levels and metabolism may be problematic with a high percentage of readers of this blog.

One thing you can do to help improve your levels of both myo- and d-chiro-inositol is to know their dietary sources. Myo-inositol is found in brewer's yeast, liver, milk, whole grains, brown rice, oats, nuts, citrus fruits, molasses, legumes, raisins, and bananas. The best sources of d-chiro-inositol are buckwheat and garbanzo beans (hummous, anyone?)

The theory is, that women with PCOS have trouble converting myo-inositol into d-chiro-inositol. So they need to bypass that metabolic bottleneck with a supplement.

I haven't had the opportunity to use d-chiro-inositol with my clients yet. I haven't wanted to recommend anything unless I'd researched it. But I had a client once, with severe OCD, who responded well to myo-inositol in a way medication and behavioral therapy never achieved. The only issue she had with the supplement was the large dose she needed to take (10 grams per day) in order to see benefit.

Fast forward to today, I've been wondering for awhile if maybe the symptoms attributed to myoinositol deficiency weren't actually myoinositol issues at all, but d-chiro-inositol issues, and the large dose needed was because the conversion in this population is so low.

So here's the best way I would think it would work to determine if d-chiro-inositol deficiency is your problem.

1. Be sure to include all the foods I mentioned above in your diet on a regular basis.

2. Try d-chiro-inositol. Give it three months of regular use to see if it helps.
--If it helps with your insulin levels, androgen levels, and menstrual cycles, then by all means continue using it!
--If it helps with the above, but doesn't help with binge eating, mood, or obsessive thinking, then consider adding some myoinositol to the mix.

3. And please, check back with us. I'm really curious to know what happens. If d-chiro-inositol also helps with mood, etc., that's very important information.

Recommended doses of each: myo-inositol 12-30 grams per day
d-chiro-inositol 100 mg, twice per day

I know, I know, if you're obsessive, you're going to want to take the higher dose of myo-inositol, or even double the dose I've listed.: ) I strongly encourage you to resist the temptation and start low and titrate up as you need to.

I spent quite a bit of time in the supplement department at Whole Foods, to get an idea of what readers would find if they went to buy inositol. As you can see at this link, the options on amazon.com, as they are in most health food stores, are primarily myoinositol.

If you'd like to purchase d-chiro-inositol, the most popular source for women with PCOS appears to be www.chiralbalance.com.

Hello UK friends!

Thanks to Twitter, I learned that your PCOS management is being directly affected by the medication shortage being experienced by the UK.

It must be stressful to feel like something you feel is essential is just beyond the grasp of your fingers. I'm very sorry to hear about this and I hope the situation resolves quickly.

My first thought on hearing about this dilemma was wondering what this kind of situation does to a woman's psyche--being told she has a certain diagnosis, that she needs to take medications for that diagnosis, and then being told she cannot get those medications. Likely dredges up the same kind of feelings you had if you've ever, on your PCOS journey, been told you're infertile. And…if you're not careful, some self-destructive ways to deal with the anxiety and frustration these kinds of situations have the potential to generate.

I hope, in those of you affected who are reading this, that you don't allow this situation to control you. In times like this, there can be a temptation to engage in behaviors (such as binge eating), to manage the stress. To feel like there is nothing you can do, so why bother? And those are exactly the times when you cannot let those feelings get the best of you.

This may actually be a time of opportunity for you, if you choose to frame the situation in that way! It can be your chance to revisit lifestyle changes and try some new things. Maybe tighten up the eating a bit, become more committed to regular activity. Focus on as many good things as you can do for yourself as possible. The name inCYST is a very intentional choice, as it encourages a more active involvement in your own well being. There is much more you can control than you can sometimes be told!

Of course, this blog is one resource. I also recommend www.pcoschallenge.com for emotional support and accountability.

Flutamide is not approved in the US because of toxicity concerns(for those of you unfamiliar with it, it is an androgen binder), so natural options for balancing androgens is something we're always looking to write about. Because it's never been a treatment option here, everything we write about on this blog is from the perspective of helping the woman who doesn't have access to that medication. So take some time and browse.

Lifestyle change is not the be-all-end-all solution. But it is an essential foundation. Take a few minutes and browse our archives. Find a new food to try. A reason to put the running shoes on. A coping technique that averts stress eating (if you haven't read Dr. HOUSE's post on how to avoid binge eating, now's the time!).