This study examined whether inositol in combination with melatonin improves oocyte quality, fertilization rate, and pregnancy rate compared to inositol alone in women undergoing in vitro fertilizaiton (IVF). Starting on the day of GnRH administration, 65 women undergoing IVF were randomized into two groups to receive either myo-inositol + folic acid + melatonin, or myo-inositol plus folic acid alone, administered continuously. The mean number of oocytes retrieved did not differ between the two groups (P=0.65). The group cotreated with melatonin had a significantly greater mean number of mature oocytes (P=0.047) and a lower mean number of immature oocytes (P=0.001). The mean number of high quality embyos was higher in the melatonin group (=0.01). Fertilization rates did not differ between the two groups, but the clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate tended to be higher in the group cotreated with melatonin. There were a total of 22 pregnancies: 13 in the melatonin group and 9 in the control group; P=0.26). Biochemical pregnancy rate and miscarriage rate were similar in both groups. Melatonin augments the activity of myo-inositol and folic acid by improving oocyte quality and pregnancy outcome in women with a history of low oocyte quality. (Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2010 Jun;14(6):555-61.) PMID: 20712264.
