title: Myo-inositol products in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) treatment: quality, labeling accuracy, and cost comparison.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the labeling accuracy of four myo-inositol products, designed for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) treatment, available on the italian market and to perform a cost comparison based on myo-inositol content in milligrams for products analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four (4) myo-inositol products (3 sachet and 1 tablet formulations) were dissolved using water, and each sample was analyzed for myo-inositol content using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with index refraction detector. The amount of myo-inositol per purchased product was then divided into its purchase price in order to make cost comparisons between the products based on a 2 and 4 g/day dose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference in the myo-inositol content, compared with the labeling was found for the products. Only 1 product contained more than 95% of the myo-inositol content claimed on the label, and there was a product with less than 75% of the labeling amount. Based on a 2-g myo-inositol per day dose, the cost of a 30-day supply ranged from Euro 20,77 and Euro 71,86, after correction by actual amount of myo-inositol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a lack of conformity between declared and actual amount of myo-inositol among the products tested and the majority of the products contained less than 95% of labeled amounts. There should be a better control in the manufacturing process in order to ensure more quality and accuracy. Nowadays consumers cannot trust myo-inositol product labels to represent the product's content accurately or that product pricing is a reflection of myo-inositol content.
authors: Centro Natalità, Obstetrics-Gynaecologic Department, Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. papaleo.enrico@hsr.it
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Papaleo
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Molgora
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Quaranta
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Pellegrino
authors: F
authors: F
authors: De Michele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D016527:Drug Costs; D004348:Drug Labeling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D007294:Inositol