Myo-inositol in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a mood disorder disrupting social and/or occupational life of affected women. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder etiology is unknown, although a pivotal role is played by the serotoninergic system. Indeed, one of the most effective treatments is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Several studies have proposed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor-like role for myo-inositol, likely due to the fact that myo-inositol is the second messenger of serotonin. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of myo-inositol in the treatment of PMDD.


METHODS
We used a two-phase clinical trial approach (phase I: placebo washout; phase II: comparisons between treatment and placebo) and treated PMMD patients with two different myo-inositol formulations: powder or soft gel capsules. We decided to test these two formulations because according to the manufacturer, 0.6 g of myo-inositol in soft gel capsule has a pharmacokinetic equivalent to 2 g of myo-inositol in powder.


RESULTS
Our results showed a significant improvement of three different scales: a reduction in the Daily Symptoms Records scale and an improvement of the Hamilton Depression Rating and Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness scales. Results were similar for both formulations.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, by using a new pharmaceutical formulation, we were able to clearly prove the efficacy of myo-inositol in PMDD.
AGUNCO Obstetrics and Gynecology Centre, via G. Cassiani, Rome, Italy. gianfranco.carlomagno@gmail.com
Carlomagno
C
Gianfranco
Unfer
U
Vittorio
Buffo
B
Silvia
D'Ambrosio
D
Francesco
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
D007294:Inositol; D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors