Supplements for PCOS treatment: A dietitian’s guide

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the primary reproductive disorder for women of childbearing age. PCOS impacts quality of life in many aspects, including fertility. Women with PCOS often face challenges in a timely and accurate diagnosis, inconsistent treatment recommendations, effectiveness of attempted treatments, and overall decreased morale when faced with managing their PCOS.  

In an effort to combat these challenges and provide more consistent and effective care for patients with PCOS, international guidelines have been created and adapted by many physicians and physician associations today. In the latest international guidelines from 2023, lifestyle management—including diet and exercise—is the primary, first-line intervention for people with PCOS. Much attention in research has been given to the evaluation of various diets and diet patterns on symptoms and outcomes for people with PCOS.  

Many diets are shown to be effective in the treatment of PCOS, further promoting the need for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) to be at the forefront of PCOS patient care to create evidence-based, person-centered nutrition plans when administering medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for patients with PCOS.   

What supplements should be considered in PCOS treatment? 

Nutrient supplementation can be an effective component of medical nutrition therapy for people with PCOS. Research for supplement intake and effectiveness for treatment of PCOS is limited at this time, with the most research found regarding Vitamin D supplementation. A recent randomized controlled trial evaluated the supplementation of 2000 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily for 12 weeks in women with PCOS and vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency.  

They reported beneficial metabolic effects from supplementation, such as improved body mass index, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol, especially in the presence of obesity or insulin resistance. Most supplements studied for PCOS treatment are selected for their known or perceived influence on metabolic and endocrine function, and not directly as a treatment for PCOS. That being said, this blog looks at possible supplements that may be beneficial for a person with PCOS.  

If a person is consuming the typical western diet, they may not be consuming enough fiber, omega-3, calcium, magnesium, zinc, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin B12, and/or vitamin D. If a woman with PCOS is being treated with metformin to assist with insulin sensitivity, they may experience cobalamin (vitamin B12) and thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency.

Myoinositol has been shown to be comparable to many of the benefits of metformin and has fewer side effects in women with PCOS. However, the “Recommendations From the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome” did not recommend inositol over metformin.  

What other dietary supplements are being researched for PCOS treatment? 

More research is needed on supplementation with berberine and chromium for their potential endocrine benefits in PCOS. Additionally, CoQ10 supplementation has been assessed for its role in improving the inflammatory markers in individuals with PCOS and overweight/obesity.  

Herbal supplementation, as well, can possibly benefit women with PCOS as a complementary part of MNT. Green tea, aloe vera, cinnamon, chamomile, and white mulberry have been included in some reviews of PCOS treatment due to anti-inflammatory properties. Some of the other dietary supplements addressed in PCOS treatment literature include green mint, flaxseed, and curcumin.  

Application for dietitians 

Dietary supplements may support the body’s metabolic, endocrine, and cellular health and may be something that patients/clients are interested in learning more about. Supplement intake is not considered a primary intervention for people with PCOS, but using supplements to address underlying metabolic and endocrine dysfunction experienced by people with PCOS may be a viable option for patients who desire to use supplements as part of their PCOS treatment. The dietitian can consider supplement recommendations based on the person’s specific PCOS phenotype.  

More research is needed before supplement recommendations for PCOS become part of the initial medical nutrition therapy. With any dietary supplements, it’s crucial for dietitians to keep up to date on current findings and be aware of possible supplement-drug-nutrient interactions. The most researched starting point for dietary supplementation is vitamin D, offering additional known benefits for many populations. As always, a person-centered nutrition plan is the best option for patient care, which may include discussion of supplementation for patients/clients with PCOS.  

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References:  

Teede, H. J., Tay, C. T., Laven, J. J. E., Dokras, A., Moran, L. J., Piltonen, T. T., Costello, M. F., Boivin, J., Redman, L. M., Boyle, J. A., Norman, R. J., Mousa, A., & Joham, A. E. (2023). Recommendations From the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 108(10), 2447–2469. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgad463 

Szczuko, M., Kikut, J., Szczuko, U., Szydłowska, I., Nawrocka-Rutkowska, J., Ziętek, M., Verbanac, D., & Saso, L. (2021). Nutrition Strategy and Life Style in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-Narrative Review. Nutrients, 13(7), 2452. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13072452 

Han, Y., Hou, Y., Han, Q., Yuan, X., & Chen, L. (2024). Dietary supplements in polycystic ovary syndrome-current evidence. Frontiers in endocrinology, 15, 1456571. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2024.1456571  

Wen, X., Wang, L., Li, F. et al. Effects of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. J Ovarian Res 17, 147 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13048-024-01473-6  

LaCroix Mallik R. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) (2024), Nutrition Intervention. Nutrition Care Manual website. Accessed October 9, 2025. https://www.nutritioncaremanual.org/topic.cfm?ncm_category_id=1&lv1=272980&lv2=275481&lv3=275486&ncm_toc_id=275486&ncm_heading=Nutrition%20Care