Inositol vs Berberine for PCOS (or Take Both?)

Can you take berberine and inositol together? Or is one better than the other? What about Metformin? If you’re asking yourself any of these questions, you’re in the right place.

As a registered dietitian who has PCOS, I’m always interested in what type of PCOS treatment options are available! This blog will dive into the pros and cons of each: inositol, berberine, and Metformin for PCOS according to science.

Benefits of Berberine for PCOS

Berberine is a natural compound found in various plants and has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. It was commonly used for fertility and diabetes.

Berberine has become popular in recent years through social media, being coined as “nature’s Ozempic” for its ability to help with weight loss. While this may have put berberine on more people’s radar, it’s actually not a new supplement in the PCOS world. 

For women with PCOS, berberine may have the ability to improve:

• Weight loss, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (1)
• Insulin sensitivity (2)
• Androgen levels (3)
• Chronic inflammation and inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP)
• Cholesterol levels

Ultimately, berberine has promising and potential benefits for improving the metabolic health of those with PCOS. If weight loss, insulin resistance, and cholesterol levels are some of your top concerns, berberine is a good supplement to consider. 

If you’re interested in trying a berberine supplement, I recommend this one. 

Benefits of Inositol for PCOS

Inositol is one of the most well-studied supplements for PCOS. It’s a type of sugar that’s naturally found in certain foods like nuts, beans, and citrus fruits. It’s similar to a B vitamin and used to be commonly referred to as vitamin B8.

You can actually read my full review of Ovasitol, my favorite inositol supplement, here: 10 Ovasitol Benefits For PCOS.

For women with PCOS, inositol may have the ability to improve:

• Insulin resistance
• Weight loss and BMI (4)
• Testosterone levels (5)
• Cholesterol levels
• Carb cravings
• Menstrual cycle regularity (6)
• Egg quality for improved fertility
• IVF outcomes
• Gestational diabetes risk
• Thyroid function 

Inositol is a great option for those with reproductive health on their mind. But don’t be fooled, you don’t need to be fertility-focused to take inositol. Even if you’re not trying to conceive, there are many benefits to inositol. If insulin resistance, testosterone levels, weight management, or fertility are some of your concerns, inositol is a good supplement to consider. 

Berberine and Inositol vs Metformin

Along with birth control, Metformin is one of the most common prescription medications used in the treatment of PCOS. There have been a few clinical trials that have compared how well berberine or inositol perform compared to Metformin in those with PCOS. 

Here’s what the research supports: 

• Berberine: Overall, it appears that berberine performs just as well, or even better in some instances, compared to Metformin for PCOS. It performs similarly for its ability to lower insulin resistance. For weight loss, cholesterol levels, and lowering cardiovascular disease risk, berberine may actually perform better (7, 8).

• Inositol: Overall, inositol appears to be a good alternative to Metformin. Inositol performs similarly, or even better, than Metformin for lowering body weight, insulin resistance, total testosterone levels, and regulating menstrual cycles. The combination of myo-inositol and d-chiro inositol seems to perform even better than just myo-inositol alone (9).

This is all exciting news, especially for those who cannot handle the common side effects of Metformin. 

Dose, Side Effects and Considerations

Berberine

The recommended dose of berberine is 500 to 1,500 mg daily. It’s generally recommended to spread these doses out throughout the day in 500 to 600 mg increments.

Potential side effects are fairly common and are mainly digestive issues such as nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, and constipation. 

While berberine has become pretty popular, there’s one thing that I don’t see being discussed nearly as often as it should be: the long-term safety of berberine. Researchers have not yet established the amount of time that berberine is safe to take. Doses up to 1500mg (or 1.5g) per day for up to 6 months appear to be safe, but beyond that is unknown.

Berberine also is not considered safe for pregnancy or breastfeeding.

If you’re interested in trying berberine, I recommend this one.

Always talk to your healthcare provider before starting any new dietary supplements to discuss whether it’s a good option for your unique individual needs.

Inositol

The recommended inositol dose is a combination of two forms of inositol: 

• 2,000 to 4,000 mg of myo-inositol daily and 
• 50 to 100 mg d-chiro inositol daily

Side effects of inositol are pretty rare but may include gastrointestinal upset such as nausea, upset stomach, and diarrhea. These side effects are typically seen at very high doses of 12,000 mg or more.

Inositol supplements are considered safe for long-term use. They’re also safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding. 

Inositol can regulate periods and improve egg quality, making it a great option for those who are trying to get pregnant. Since those with PCOS are at an increased risk of gestational diabetes, inositol is a great option to lower you risk since it can be continued during pregnancy. 

For the recommended myo-inositol and d-chiro combination supplements, I recommend Ovasitol by the brand Theralogix. You can use PRC code: 202702 for a discount within the United States. Use discount code ALYSSA on the Canadian website.

Inositol or Berberine: Which Is Better? 

Unfortunately there isn’t a clear cut answer across the board. Your specific health goals, along with your symptoms of PCOS, will dictate which is a better choice for you. 

Both inositol and berberine have the potential to improve a lot of negative symptoms you may be experiencing with PCOS, such as insulin resistance, irregular periods, inflammation, high cholesterol levels, and high androgens.

When we get down to it though, research supports a wider variety of uses for inositol that haven’t been proven with berberine yet, such as thyroid benefits and fertility outcomes. Inositol typically causes fewer side effects than berberine or Metformin. It’s also recognized as safe for long-term use, pregnancy and breastfeeding…so there’s really no need to stop taking this supplement if you notice benefits.

On the other hand, berberine seems to have a bigger impact on weight loss. But the long term safety of berberine isn’t clearly established yet. It’s likely safe to take up to 1500 mg daily for up to 6 months, but most providers typically recommend cycling off berberine to give your body a break. 

It’s also not safe for pregnancy or breastfeeding. So if you’re planning to become pregnant, this may not be a great choice for you. 

Can I Take Berberine and Inositol Together? 

There are not any known interactions between these two popular supplements. However, since they both work similarly, the effects of these supplements may be magnified if they’re combined together…which may lead to symptoms like hypoglycemia or lower blood sugar levels. 

Some people do see greater potential health benefits when taking berberine and inositol together. Berberine can particularly improve weight loss, cholesterol levels, and heart disease risk factors. On the other hand, inositol can improve insulin resistance, menstrual regularity, ovulation rates, and fertility. The combination of the two can provide synergistic effects to effectively manage your PCOS symptoms.

If you’re interested in trying a combination of berberine and inositol, I recommend this discounted bundle that gives you a three month supply (aka the minimum amount of time to give any dietary supplement to determine if it’s working).

Can I Take Inositol or Berberine with Metformin?

Another popular question is whether these supplements are safe to take with Metformin. Again, there aren’t any known interactions between Metformin and inositol or berberine. However, this prescription medication and supplements all work similarly so the effects may be increased and lead to symptoms like low blood sugar levels. 

Always talk to your healthcare provider before starting any supplements.  

The Bottom Line

Berberine and inositol are two popular supplements for PCOS. They both can lower insulin resistance, inflammation, body weight, cholesterol levels, and androgen levels. 

Berberine appears to be more effective for those looking to lose weight, although it’s not well understood if berberine is safe to take beyond a 6 month period. It’s also not safe for pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Inositol appears to be more effective for those looking to lower insulin resistance or regulate menstrual cycles. It also has additional known benefits for fertility and pregnancy. Inositol is considered safe for long-term use and while pregnant or breastfeeding. This makes it a better choice for those looking for fertility support, however, you don’t need to be trying to conceive to take inositol.

There aren’t any known interactions between these two supplements, and they appear to be safe to take together. I recommend this discounted bundle of inositol and berberine if you’re interested in trying the combination of these supplements.

More PCOS Supplement Posts You’ll Love

Ashwagandha for PCOS: What You Should Know

Maca Root for PCOS: Is It Worth The Hype?

Best Supplements for PCOS Weight Loss

Happy Hormones PCOS Multivitamin Review

Best Magnesium for PCOS

Disclaimer: this is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to substitute for or replace professional medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical conditions including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Always consult with your medical doctor before making changes to your health routine.