title: Myo-inositol and melatonin in the menopausal transition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects on serum insulin and serum thyroid profile of a dietary supplement, myo-inositol, given alone or in combination with melatonin to women during menopausal transition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty women aged 45-55 years and at least 6 months of amenorrhea were enrolled in this study. They were randomly assigned to two groups of 20 each. One group took myo-inositol (myo-Ins) (2 g twice a day) and the other group took 2 g/d myo-Ins plus 3 g/d melatonin before sleeping. At the beginning of the study and after 6 months, all women were evaluated for the following indices: waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, endometrial thickness, as well as serum concentrations of TSH, FT3, FT4 and insulin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both at baseline and at 6 months, the two groups were statistically similar for each of the considered indices. If percent changes (Δ%, 6 months over baseline) are contrasted in the two groups, serum TSH decreased in the myo-Ins group but increased in the latter, while serum insulin decreased in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of myo-Ins plus melatonin seems to affect positively glucose metabolism, while myo-Ins only seems to improve thyroid function.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Pathology.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Anna
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Pathology.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santamaria
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biomedical Sciences , and.
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giorgianni
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Pathology.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaiarelli
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Pathology.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gullo
authors.affiliation: c Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Bari
authors.affiliation: c Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Messina , Messina , Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benvenga
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D007294:Inositol; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: Insulin; melatonin; menopause; myo-inositol; thyroid