10+ Best Supplements for PCOS to Improve Your Symptoms

The very first thing doctors tell women who have been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is that there is no known cure for this disorder. Even the best supplements for PCOS can alleviate some of its symptoms but not heal its cause which is still unknown.

Still, some of the supplements are really worth trying as their efficacy has been clinically proven: keep on reading and you will find everything there is to know about them.

1. Weight Loss

Weight loss is one of the most common recommendations for patients with PCOS. To achieve it you need to reduce the number of calories you get with food and do more exercise to burn fat. While the second task is fully up to you, food supplements can help you with the first one.

The very simplest way to cut your carbohydrate intake is to replace sugar with a zero-calorie sweetener like stevia: while it has a pleasant sweet taste, the body does not use it in any way. Here is one of the best stevia supplements for PCOS and weight loss on iHerb:

SweetLeaf, 35 packets by Wisdom Natural

• One packet has the same sweetness as 2 teaspoons of regular sugar 
• Nothing artificial: only high-quality stevia leaves and pure water are used for the product’s manufacturing
• Allergen-free and non-GMO

You can use filler products to feel full for a longer time and thus avoid eating more than needed. Medical research confirms that flax seed effectively helps you get fewer calories and achieve a significant reduction in body weight. Here is one of the highest-rated supplements with flax seed on iHerb:

Flax Seed Meal, 340 grams (12 oz) by NOW Foods

• Certified organic
• Add the finely ground powder to any kind of food like cereals, pancakes, yogurt, meatballs, bread, or muffins 
• Non-GMO; no artificial ingredients
• Good for your health in more than one way: contains 3.2 grams of ALA (a precursor to important omega-3 fatty acids) per serving

One of the best ways to shed surplus weight is to replace a part of carbohydrates and fats in your daily ration with proteins. By doing this you will both avoid feeling hungry and receive considerably fewer calories.

This product is arguably the best protein supplement for PCOS and weight loss on iHerb:

Chocolate Whey Protein + Probiotic by Lake Avenue Nutrition

• Premium-quality whey protein
• Naturally flavored with cocoa powder; no artificial sweeteners or colors added
• Additionally features 16 probiotic strains for gut health
• Includes enzymes to help digestion 
• You get 10% of the recommended daily calcium intake with each serving

Follow this link to find more supplements for efficient weight loss.

2. N-acetylcysteine (NAC)

NAC is a precursor to glutathione, a powerful antioxidant, and detoxifier of the body. Current research demonstrates that this compound can help women with PCOS in various ways. Among other things it:

• Improves the rate of ovulation and pregnancy
• Improves insulin resistance — a common condition in women affected with PCOS
• Can treat menstrual irregularity and decrease the levels of testosterone, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein
• Reduces oxidative stress
• Improves liver function and can alleviate symptoms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, another frequent condition associated with PCOS.

Doses of NAC used in some of the studies equaled 600 mg three times daily. Oral supplements with NAC can have such side effects as upset stomach, rash and fever, so it is recommended that you start from a low total daily dose and increase it in small increments over a period of several weeks.

Here is arguably the best NAC supplement for PCOS on iHerb:

NAC Detox Regulators by Doctor’s Best

• 600 mg of NAC per capsule
• 180 capsules
• Contains molybdenum (50 mcg) and selenium (50 mcg) to additionally help glutathione production
• Selenium was found to improve insulin resistance in people with PCOS
• Well-known brand

3. Magnesium

Magnesium (Mg) is among the most abundant elements in the body; it is required for the proper function of more than 300 enzymes. Research into the properties of this element shows that women with Mg deficiency are 19 times as prone to PCOS development as ones with normal magnesium levels. Conversely, low serum Mg concentrations are much more typical for women with PCOS than for those who do not suffer from this condition.

Although there is a hypothesis that food supplements with Mg can help improve insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS, it is not yet clinically proven. In any way, if you are deficient in this element, you might benefit from enriching your daily diet with such Mg-rich foods as almonds, cashews, green leafy vegetables, cereals, and cocoa. 

The recommended daily intake of magnesium from both food sources and dietary supplements is 320 mg for women above 30, and 310 mg for those below this age. If you are going to use dietary supplements, do not exceed the dose of 350 mg of Mg per day.

Here is one of the best supplements with Mg to take for PCOS:

High Absorption Magnesium by Doctor’s Best

• Reputable brand
• 100 mg per tablet; 240 tablets
• Does not cause gastrointestinal distress that is common for other forms of Mg supplements
• Better absorbed (up to 6 times) than other types of Mg supplements

4. Zinc

Zinc is an element that is crucially important for insulin metabolism. Research shows that zinc deficiency can lead to obesity and diabetes as well as the development of insulin resistance in women with PCOS. In several studies, zinc in a daily dose of 50 mg was given to women with PCOS, which led to an improvement in lipid metabolism and insulin resistance.

You can buy the best zinc supplements for PCOS on iHerb. Here is one of the highest-rated products in this online store:

Zinc, 250 tablets, 50 mg per tablet by NOW Foods

• 50 mg per tablet
• 250 tablets are enough for eight months of use
• Well-known reputable brand
• Non-GMO

5. Calcium and Vitamin D

Calcium (Ca) is an essential element that, among its numerous other roles in the body, is involved in the progression of follicular development. Obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome were shown to have a significantly higher occurrence of decreased calcium levels.

Vitamin D is required for the health of bones and teeth as well as for numerous aspects of metabolism. Research shows that women who have both PCOS and obesity have markedly decreased levels of vitamin D; what’s more, there is a direct association between this vitamin and metabolic disturbances in women with PCOS.

Supplements with calcium and vitamin D can be used for several purposes. In one study Ca (in a dose of 1,000 mg per day), vitamin D (100,000 IU per month), and prescription medication metformin (1500 mg per day) were successfully used to help patients with polycystic ovary syndrome to significantly reduce body mass index as well as improve menstrual cyclicity and pregnancy rates. In another study, a combination of magnesium (100 mg twice a day), zinc (4 mg twice a day),  calcium (400 mg twice a day), and vitamin D (200 IU twice a day) was demonstrated to improve insulin metabolism and have a beneficial effect on markers of cardio-metabolic risk.

Here is one of the top-rated calcium supplements on iHerb:

Calcium Citrate by Natural Factors

• 90 tablets
• 350 mg per tablet
• Laboratory tested
• Dependable brand

And here is one of the best vitamin D supplements for PCOS on iHerb:

Vitamin D3 by NOW Foods

• 1,000 IU per softgel is a convenient and versatile dosage
• 360 softgels
• Olive oil-filled softgels for better bioavailability

If you prefer using complex mineral/vitamin formulas to buying each of the nutrients separately, you will definitely agree that this product is one of the best supplements for PCOS and insulin resistance:

Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc + D₃ by 21st Century

• 90 tablets
• Each tablet contains: 333 mg of calcium, 133 mg of magnesium, 5 mg of zinc, and 133 IU of vitamin D₃
• Laboratory Tested
• Well-known brand

6. Berberine

Berberine is a bioactive compound that is extracted from the roots, stems, and bark of numerous plants including barberry — hence the name. The Chinese have been using it for many hundreds of years to treat various health conditions including infertility and diabetes.

These days there is ongoing research into the benefits of berberine for alleviating the symptoms of PCOS. In a 2013 study, it was established that women with PCOS who took berberine had higher pregnancy rates compared to those who used the above-mentioned medication metformin. In a 2012 study researchers came to a conclusion that berberine can improve insulin sensitivity. Another 2012 study demonstrated that the use of berberine (in a dose of 500 mg taken three times a day) led to a decrease in body fat, helped lower insulin and glucose levels, and caused a noticeable drop in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides.

A recent 2020 review concludes that while further studies of this compound are needed, berberine shows great promise as one of the best natural supplements for PCOS-related insulin resistance and fertility issues.

Berberine is usually well tolerated with the most common side effects of high doses being nausea and constipation. It is recommended that for the first week of its use you start with a daily dose of 500 mg, then increase it up to 1,000 mg per day for the second week, and from the third week on taking 1,500 mg of berberine per day (divided into three equal 500 mg doses).

You might want to consult your doctor before using this supplement because berberine can interfere with the action of antidepressants, beta-blockers, blood thinners, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. What’s more, the long-term effects of this compound are still not sufficiently studied.

This is arguably the best berberine supplement for PCOS on iHerb:

WellBetX Berberine by Natural Factors

• 60 capsules
• 500 mg per capsule
• Derived from the root of berberis 
• Non-GMO and laboratory tested
• Reputable brand

7. Inositol

Inositol is naturally produced in the human body and is used for transferring signals between cells. A 2012 review of several trials demonstrated that the use of inositol supplements can improve insulin levels, restore ovarian activity, and increase pregnancy rates. These conclusions are supported by several other studies.

There are numerous forms of inositol that differ from one another in their distribution of the same number of atoms. A 2014 medical article recommends the use of a combination of Myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol in a ratio of 40:1. This combination is said to reproduce the plasma physiological ratio and can counteract PCOS at both systemic and ovary levels.

Here is one of the best supplements for PCOS fertility that features both Myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol in a 40:1 ratio:

Myo + D-Chiro Inositol by Fairhaven Health

• Serving size: 4 capsules
• 120 capsules: enough for a month of use
• Not to be taken during pregnancy

8. Fish Oil

Fish oil contains two important omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) that can decrease hypertension, improve lipid profiles, and have anti-inflammatory action. While there is ongoing research into omega-3 acids’ benefits for PCOS, its results are still inconclusive. It is recommended that you use fish oil with high DHA and EPA content to supplement the action of other medications and health products: most likely it won’t be enough to deal with your symptoms by itself.

You can find the best vitamins and supplements for PCOS on iHerb. Here is one of the top-rated fish oil products in this online store:

Elite Omega 3 by Carlson Labs

• Very high quantity of DHA (600 mg) and EPA (800 mg) per single serving
• Naturally lemon-flavored to avoid an unpleasant fishy aftertaste 
• Enough softgels for 120 days of use
• Reputable Norwegian brand

9. Probiotics

Probiotics were found to improve blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes. A similar effect was found in a study of probiotic benefits for patients with PCOS. Thus, it is believed that probiotics can be used as supplementary to such potent compounds as berberine and inositol.

Here is one of the most popular probiotic products on iHerb:

LactoBif Probiotics by California Gold Nutrition

• 60 capsules in double-foil blisters that protect the content from oxygen, light, and moisture
• 8 probiotic strains 
• 30 billion colony forming units per capsule

10. Selenium

Selenium is an element that has insulin-like activities and was shown to improve insulin resistance in women with PCOS.

Here is one of the highest-rated selenium supplements on iHerb:

Selenium, 100 tablets, 100 mcg per tablet by Solgar

• 100 mcg per tablet
• 100 tablets
• A highly bioavailable form of selenium

11. Conclusion: What Are the Best Supplements to Take for PCOS

If you are diagnosed with this condition, discuss with your doctor these 10 best supplements for PCOS.

For all kinds of symptoms:

1. Inositol 
2. Berberine
3. N-acetylcysteine

To improve insulin resistance:

4. Calcium
5. Magnesium
6. Zinc
7. Vitamin D₃
8. Selenium 
9. Probiotics

For weight loss:

10. Whey protein

Now you know the best supplements for PCOS. To help their action, do not neglect regular physical exercise and a healthy diet. Take care!