Inositol and Choline

StacieMara · 08-21-2009, 05:56 PM

I just started taking inositol and choline after being diagnosed with PCOS. I hear that it will regulate my periods and help with weight loss. Has anyone tried these two supplements together? If you have, what have you experienced with them? Thanks for your help!

saffron4859 · 08-22-2009, 09:26 AM

Hi ladies, I'm a newbie to the board, but I wanted to share my experience so far. I went back on Metformin this past February and gave up sugar almost entirely and added in very moderate amounts of exercise. I've lost 45 pounds this way, got off blood pressure medication, and decided to go off BCP back in June. I had a 50 day cycle and it turned out I ovulated on my own on day 40...happened to have really bad timing though. But this was probably the shortest my cycle had ever been, considering I got pregnant with my daughter on an 80 day cycle.

Then I started reading some stuff about the D-chiro-inositol and bought the Mendak flour, but honestly, I haven't been able to stomach eating anything I make with it! This lead me to buying the inositol supplements just this past week at GNC. I am taking them along with my prescribed metformin, calcium, and vitamin D and to my amazement, on day 17, I am getting a high reading on my monitor already. Also, I lost 5 pounds very easily this week. I've always felt so much better on Metformin, but adding in the inositol, I don't know, I feel even more energetic. Who knows if that is psychosomatic, but if I'm on the road to ovulating this soon after being on the inositol, I will be absolutely amazed.

I'm off to read about the Choline now, but I wanted to share my excitement at least over the inositol so far!

lexibelle · 08-22-2009, 07:05 PM

Hey

I've been taking the Inositol and Choline combination since November of 2008. I've paired it with lifestyle changes (counting calories, working my way up to 60 minutes of cardio 3 to 5 days a week, strength training) and couldn't be happier with the results.

I've lost 60lbs, and although I've hit a plateau I know it's because I've slacked on my end of the bargain (the healthy eating and exercise). I have been having regular cycles since December/January - the last two were actually 28 days, but due to taking Soy this cycle AF is running late so I'm not worried.

I've also had a decrease in my BP (first time in my life - I've lost a large amount of weight before and still needed pretty hefty dosages of medication), my depression has improved significantly and I feel better overall.

I do want to stress that you need to be willing to make the lifestyle changes - you can't take the Inositol and continue with a high-calorie, sedentary lifestyle and then wonder why it's not working. From my observations the biggest thing that the Inositol and Choline do is allow my body to function properly and act normally when I'm doing the same things other non-PCOS women would do to lose weight.

As a note, the Choline is a companion supplement that's been shown to aide in the Inositol's effect. I don't remember all the medical reasons behind it off hand, but you'll definitely be able to find some information online. My only warning with the Choline is to be sure not to go too high with your dosage. I was accidentally taking 2400+ mg a day and man, was I having stomach issues. I did research and discovered that's a side effect if too much is taken. Whoops! So now I just keep my dosage at between 1200 and 1500mg.

Good luck!

herbsgirl · 08-22-2009, 07:12 PM

Lexibelle-your sucess is really good!

I am planning on starting my Inositol/Choline back up again.

When I was taking it before here is what it did

* I noticed signs of fertility

* It boosted my mood more than D-chiro Inositol

* I was not as hungry as much

I still plan on taking D-chiro Inositol along with Inositol/Choline. I cannot afford the higher doses of D-chiro Inositol that I need to be on, so adding in some Inositol/Choline will help me, I am hoping.