MAP Trial

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Myoinositol in Adolescent PCOS- A Trial to Evaluate the Feasibility of a Substantive Trial

• IRAS ID

  362931

• Contact name

  Pallavi Latthe

• Contact email

  platthe@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Birmingham

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 6 months, 29 days

• Research summary

  Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition that affects many teenage girls. It can cause irregular periods, acne, excess hair growth, and emotional distress. PCOS also increases the risk of long-term health problems like diabetes and heart disease. Current treatments often involve hormonal medications, which some young people and families are reluctant to use due to side effects or cultural concerns.
  This study, called the MAP Trial, will test whether a natural food supplement called myoinositol could be a helpful alternative. Myoinositol has shown promise in adults with PCOS, but it hasn’t been properly studied in teenagers. The MAP Trial is a feasibility study, which means it won’t test how well the supplement works just yet—it will check whether a larger trial is possible.

  We will recruit 80 girls aged 12–19 with PCOS from Six NHS hospitals in England. Participants will be randomly assigned to take either myoinositol or a placebo (inactive tablet) for six months, along with lifestyle advice. We will monitor how many girls agree to take part, how well they stick to the treatment, and how easy it is to collect the necessary data.

  We will also interview some participants and their parents to understand their experiences and views. This will help us improve the design of a future trial. The study will collect information about symptoms, quality of life, and routine blood tests.

  The results will help researchers decide whether a larger trial should go ahead and how best to support young people with PCOS in future research.

• REC name

  North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  26/NW/0108

• Date of REC Opinion

  7 May 2026

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion