# Effect of Myo‐Inositol Treatment on Serum Asprosin Levels of Pregnant Women: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

## TL;DR

This study explores how myo-inositol supplementation affects asprosin levels and insulin resistance in pregnant women.

## Contribution

The study is the first to investigate the effect of myo-inositol on serum asprosin levels during pregnancy.

## Key findings

- Myo-inositol supplementation decreased serum asprosin levels and HOMA-IR index in pregnant women.
- Folic acid alone increased asprosin levels without worsening insulin resistance indices.
- Asprosin may be a useful marker for insulin resistance in pregnancy.

## Abstract

Asprosin is a newly discovered adipokine associated with insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus. Currently, its role during gestation is under investigation, as asprosin seems to increase during pregnancy, contributing to the onset of complications, like gestational diabetes. Considering the beneficial effects of myo‐inositol to support the physiological pregnancy, recovering and preventing adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, we aimed to evaluate the effects of its supplementation on serum asprosin levels in pregnant women.

We enrolled 40 patients at the early stages of pregnancy and randomly distributed them to a study group, which received 2‐g myo‐inositol and 200‐μg folic acid twice a day, or to a control group, which received the sole folic acid.

After 20–22 weeks of treatment, we recorded a decrease of serum asprosin values as well as of HOMA‐IR index in the group supplemented with myo‐inositol, while the group that took only folic acid showed an increase in asprosin levels and no worsening of insulin resistance indices (HOMA‐IR index).

The small number of patients could be a limitation of the study.

Asprosin may be modulated by myo‐inositol. This opens the possibility of considering this adipokine as a useful marker of insulin resistance to assess in pregnant women and to efficaciously target in clinical practice.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05943158.