Untapped and lacking science; booming with opportunity
Another health area receiving more attention, and where more supplement options are available, is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Estimates vary as to how many women suffer from this condition, but in the UK, for instance, it is thought to be at least 10% and possibly as much as 20% of the female population. Medlin points to the provision of inofolic supplements as a major step forward in this area, combining myo-inositol with folic acid.
“If a young woman is on the pill, it may well mask the symptoms,” she explains. “But supplements can help women to ovulate in a more regular way, and can minimise the growth of facial hair, acne and so on.” West emphasises the importance of inositol in cell-to-cell communication, but strikes a note of caution. “There is some evidence that suggests that supplementing with myo-inositol may help with irregular periods and ovulation in some cases,” she says.
But she points out that, as with many active ingredients, research to date is not particularly robust in terms of sample size, randomised controls, and so on. “So, the decision to try it has, in the end, to be one of personal judgement.”
Foss stresses the importance of seeking to uncover what may have triggered a certain disease or condition, and the degree to which this can vary from one woman to another. “I had great success with one client who suffered with endometriosis,” she recalls. “We introduced a probiotic to help support gut and digestive health, we removed dairy—which can be inflammatory for some—and she followed an anti-inflammatory diet. Just these small changes had an impact on her overall health.”
