This review details the physiologic roles of two insulin sensitizers, myo-inositol (MI) and d-chiro-inositol (DCI). In the human ovary, MI is a second messenger of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and DCI is an aromatase inhibitor. These activities allow a treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to be defined based on the combined administration of MI and DCI, where the best MI:DCI ratio is 40:1. Moreover, MI enhances the effect of metformin and clomiphene on the fertility of PCOS women seeking pregnancy. As impaired intestinal transport may lead to unsuccessful inositol treatment, we also discuss new data on the use of alpha-lactalbumin to boost inositol absorption. Overall, the physiological activities of MI and DCI dictate the dosages and timing of inositol supplementation in the treatment of PCOS.

中文翻译：

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多囊卵巢综合征中的肌醇：进展概述

本综述详细介绍了两种胰岛素增敏剂肌醇 (MI) 和 d-手性肌醇 (DCI) 的生理作用。在人类卵巢中，MI 是促卵泡激素 (FSH) 的第二信使，而 DCI 是芳香酶抑制剂。这些活动允许基于 MI 和 DCI 的联合给药来定义多囊卵巢综合征 (PCOS) 的治疗，其中最佳 MI:DCI 比率为 40:1。此外，MI 增强了二甲双胍和克罗米芬对寻求怀孕的多囊卵巢综合征女性生育能力的影响。由于肠道运输受损可能导致肌醇治疗失败，我们还讨论了使用 α-乳清蛋白促进肌醇吸收的新数据。总体而言，MI 和 DCI 的生理活动决定了 PCOS 治疗中肌醇补充剂的剂量和时间。