Inositols: From Established Knowledge to Novel Approaches
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Published:2021-09-30
Issue:19
Volume:22
Page:10575
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ISSN:1422-0067
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Container-title:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
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language:en
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Short-container-title:IJMS
Author:
Dinicola Simona, Unfer Vittorio, Facchinetti Fabio, Soulage Christophe O., Greene Nicholas D.ORCID, Bizzarri MarianoORCID, Laganà Antonio SimoneORCID, Chan Shiao-Yng, Bevilacqua ArturoORCID, Pkhaladze Lali, Benvenga Salvatore, Stringaro AnnaritaORCID, Barbaro Daniele, Appetecchia MarialuisaORCID, Aragona Cesare, Bezerra Espinola Maria Salomè, Cantelmi Tonino, Cavalli Pietro, Chiu Tony T., Copp Andrew J., D’Anna Rosario, Dewailly DidierORCID, Di Lorenzo CherubinoORCID, Diamanti-Kandarakis EvanthiaORCID, Hernández Marín Imelda, Hod Moshe, Kamenov ZdravkoORCID, Kandaraki Eleni, Monastra Giovanni, Montanino Oliva Mario, Nestler John E., Nordio Maurizio, Ozay Ali C.ORCID, Papalou Olga, Porcaro Giuseppina, Prapas Nikos, Roseff ScottORCID, Vazquez-Levin Monica, Vucenik Ivana, Wdowiak ArturORCID
Abstract
Myo-inositol (myo-Ins) and D-chiro-inositol (D-chiro-Ins) are natural compounds involved in many biological pathways. Since the discovery of their involvement in endocrine signal transduction, myo-Ins and D-chiro-Ins supplementation has contributed to clinical approaches in ameliorating many gynecological and endocrinological diseases. Currently both myo-Ins and D-chiro-Ins are well-tolerated, effective alternative candidates to the classical insulin sensitizers, and are useful treatments in preventing and treating metabolic and reproductive disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and male fertility disturbances, like sperm abnormalities. Moreover, besides metabolic activity, myo-Ins and D-chiro-Ins deeply influence steroidogenesis, regulating the pools of androgens and estrogens, likely in opposite ways. Given the complexity of inositol-related mechanisms of action, many of their beneficial effects are still under scrutiny. Therefore, continuing research aims to discover new emerging roles and mechanisms that can allow clinicians to tailor inositol therapy and to use it in other medical areas, hitherto unexplored. The present paper outlines the established evidence on inositols and updates on recent research, namely concerning D-chiro-Ins involvement into steroidogenesis. In particular, D-chiro-Ins mediates insulin-induced testosterone biosynthesis from ovarian thecal cells and directly affects synthesis of estrogens by modulating the expression of the aromatase enzyme. Ovaries, as well as other organs and tissues, are characterized by a specific ratio of myo-Ins to D-chiro-Ins, which ensures their healthy state and proper functionality. Altered inositol ratios may account for pathological conditions, causing an imbalance in sex hormones. Such situations usually occur in association with medical conditions, such as PCOS, or as a consequence of some pharmacological treatments. Based on the physiological role of inositols and the pathological implications of altered myo-Ins to D-chiro-Ins ratios, inositol therapy may be designed with two different aims: (1) restoring the inositol physiological ratio; (2) altering the ratio in a controlled way to achieve specific effects.
Subject
Inorganic Chemistry,Organic Chemistry,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry,Computer Science Applications,Spectroscopy,Molecular Biology,General Medicine,Catalysis
Cited by
67 articles.
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