Condition
Hirsutism
Hirsutism is excess hair growth in women in areas where men typically grow it, like the face, chest and back, usually from extra androgens (male hormones) or heightened sensitivity to them. Spearmint tea and inositol have the most support, both moderate, with spearmint studies finding lower free testosterone and inositol linked to improved blood glucose. The inositol glucose finding came from two small studies, and other supplements have only limited evidence.
Sources: PMID 36703143
- Supplements studied
- 1
- Graded outcomes
- 1
- Trials
- 1
- People studied
- 46
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood glucose Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 2 studies | 46 people | ||
| Excessive Hair Growth | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 46 people | |||
Studies that measured excessive hair growth | ||||||
| Insulin | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 46 people | |||
Key findings
- Blood glucoseImproves (the measure goes down)
The Hirsutism Management Support protocol
2 primary supplements · 6 supporting supplements
- Spearmint Tea2 cups spearmint tea daily (1 cup twice daily)
- Inositol (Myo-inositol)2–4 g myo-inositol daily
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Studies cited
4 studies from PubMed
- Dietary supplementation with myo-inositol in women during pregnancy for treating gestational diabetes.
- Treatment of hirsutism with myo-inositol: a prospective clinical study
- Inositol is an effective and safe treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in Indian Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.