This peer-reviewed study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences investigates the effects of D-chiro-inositol (DCI) on female fertility across key life stages, using aged mice and two distinct mouse models of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The research demonstrates that chronic DCI supplementation significantly improves oocyte quality, embryo development, and implantation rates, even in the presence of ovarian aging or PCOS-related dysfunction.
Mechanistically, DCI reduced cyst-like follicle formation, enhanced corpus luteum development, and modulated the expression of genes involved in oocyte competence (Gdf9), oxidative stress control (Sirt3, Sod2), glucose transport (Slc2a4), steroidogenesis (Akr1c3), and inflammatory signaling. In metabolically compromised PCOS models, DCI restored hepatic insulin signaling through reactivation of the AKT pathway, improving glucose tolerance without altering body weight.
These results provide strong mechanistic evidence that D-chiro-inositol supports reproductive function by addressing the underlying metabolic and hormonal dysregulation common to PCOS and reproductive aging. The study establishes DCI as a life-stage nutraceutical capable of improving fertility outcomes from adolescence (PCOS) through advanced maternal age.