The Science
Every ingredient.
Every study. Cited.
We believe it's important to share the actual evidence base for each ingredient in Nilara, including where the data is strong, where it's promising, and where more research is needed.
We believe informed women make better decisions. That's why Nilara shows its work.
Myo + D-Chiro Inositol (40:1)
2,000mg per serving
The most evidence-backed non-prescription intervention in PCOS. The 40:1 ratio of myo-inositol to D-chiro-inositol mirrors the natural ratio found in healthy ovarian tissue. Multiple RCTs confirm improvements in ovulation, insulin resistance, and androgen levels.
Nordio, Basciani, Camajani · Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci · 2019 · PubMed 31298405
40:1 ratio outperformed all 6 other ratios tested — best results for ovulation, testosterone, insulin, and SHBG.
56 PCOS patients across 7 ratio groups, 3 months. The 40:1 ratio produced the most significant restoration of ovulation and favorable hormonal parameters across FSH, LH, SHBG, free testosterone, and insulin.
PubMed →
Unfer et al. · Endocrine Connections · Meta-Analysis · 2017 · PMC5655679
9-RCT meta-analysis: significant reductions in fasting insulin and HOMA-IR across 247 cases and 249 controls.
Myo-inositol alone or combined with D-Chiro significantly improved metabolic profile. SHBG increased with supplementation lasting at least 24 weeks.
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Benelli et al. · University of Pisa · RCT · 2016 · PubMed 27493664
40:1 combination improved endocrine and metabolic parameters vs. placebo over 6 months.
46 PCOS patients randomized to MI+DCI (40:1) or folic acid placebo for 6 months. Significant improvements in FSH, LH, SHBG, free testosterone, androstenedione, DHEAS, and HOMA index.
PubMed →
Basciani et al. · Gynecol Endocrinol · 2024 · PMC11126204
40:1 improved hormonal and metabolic profile even in PCOS phenotype A — the most severe presentation.
34 women with PCOS phenotype A. Significant changes in testosterone, SHBG, free androgen index, AMH, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR after 3 months, even at a slightly lower dose than prior studies.
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Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone)
200mg per serving
One of the broadest evidence bases of any supplement in PCOS. CoQ10 is a mitochondrial antioxidant that protects ovarian tissue from oxidative stress — directly supporting folliculogenesis and oocyte quality — while also improving insulin resistance and reducing androgens.
Xu et al. · Reproductive Sciences · Meta-Analysis · 9 RCTs · 1,021 patients · PubMed 35941510
CoQ10 significantly improved insulin resistance, testosterone, FSH, and full lipid panel. No adverse events reported across any trial.
9 RCTs, 1,021 PCOS patients. Significant improvements in HOMA-IR, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, FSH, testosterone, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL. The most comprehensive meta-analysis of CoQ10 in PCOS to date.
PubMed →
Jamilian et al. · J Affect Disord · Double-blind RCT · n=55 · 12 weeks · PubMed 34664527
100mg/day CoQ10 significantly reduced total testosterone, DHEAS, hirsutism scores, depression, anxiety, and inflammatory markers vs. placebo.
55 PCOS women randomized to 100mg CoQ10 or placebo for 12 weeks. Significant reductions across hormonal, psychological, and inflammatory endpoints. No adverse events reported.
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El Refaeey et al. · Reprod Biomed Online · RCT · n=101 · PubMed 24813752
Adding CoQ10 to clomiphene in resistant PCOS increased ovulation rate from 15.5% to 65.9% and clinical pregnancy rate from 6% to 37.3%.
101 clomiphene-resistant PCOS women. The CoQ10 group showed significantly higher follicle counts, greater endometrial thickness, and dramatically higher pregnancy rates.
PubMed →
Taghizadeh et al. · Gynecol Endocrinol · RCT · n=43 · 8 weeks · PubMed 32544011
200mg CoQ10 daily for 8 weeks significantly reduced hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and vascular adhesion molecules in overweight PCOS women.
43 overweight/obese PCOS women randomized to 200mg CoQ10 or placebo. Confirms anti-inflammatory effect alongside the metabolic and hormonal benefits. This is the study supporting the 200mg dose in Nilara.
PubMed →
Magnesium Glycinate
200mg chelated per serving
Most PCOS women are magnesium deficient — and magnesium is directly involved in insulin signaling, cortisol regulation, and inflammation. The glycinate form is chosen for superior absorption and tolerability compared to oxide or citrate forms.
Sharifi et al. · Cross-sectional · n=206 · PubMed 21696337
PCOS women with magnesium deficiency were 19x more likely to have PCOS than those with normal levels.
103 PCOS cases vs. 103 matched controls. Risk of PCOS for subjects with magnesium deficiency was 19-fold greater than those with normal serum Mg (p≤0.0001). Establishes the foundational link between Mg status and PCOS prevalence.
PubMed →
Shahmoradi et al. · Biol Trace Elem Res · Triple-blind RCT · 2024 · PubMed 37393389
Mg supplementation significantly reduced serum insulin (p=0.036) and insulin resistance (p=0.032) vs. placebo in PCOS women.
40 PCOS women aged 15–35 randomized to 250mg/day Mg oxide vs. placebo for 2 months. Significant reductions in insulin and HOMA-IR. Also lowered total cholesterol and LDL while increasing HDL.
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Systematic Review · Frontiers Endocrinol · 2022 · 9 RCTs · PMC9389579
Mg co-supplementation (with zinc or vitamin D) significantly improved glucose, lipid, and insulin resistance markers in PCOS — more than Mg alone.
363 patients across 9 RCTs. Magnesium alone showed modest effects. Co-supplementation with vitamin E, zinc, or vitamin D significantly improved HOMA-IR, serum insulin, and cholesterol. Nilara's multi-ingredient formula is designed around exactly this co-supplementation insight.
Honest caveat: A 2025 meta-analysis (6 RCTs) found no significant effect of Mg supplementation alone on cardiometabolic or hormonal factors in PCOS. The evidence for Mg is meaningful as part of a multi-ingredient formula — which is precisely how Nilara uses it.
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Vitamin D3
2,000 IU per serving
Between 40–85% of women with PCOS are vitamin D deficient. Supplementation has been shown to improve menstrual regularity, insulin resistance, and lipid profiles. 2,000 IU is the conservative daily maintenance dose used across multiple clinical trials.
Li et al. · Meta-analysis · 13 RCTs · n=824 · PMC7773476
Vitamin D supplementation alone significantly reduced fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, fasting plasma glucose, and VLDL-C in deficient PCOS women.
13 RCTs, 824 patients. Oral vitamin D alone improved insulin resistance markers in vitamin D-deficient PCOS women. The most comprehensive RCT-only meta-analysis on this topic.
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Liu et al. · RCT · n=60 · 12 weeks · PubMed 39014475
2,000 IU/day for 12 weeks significantly reduced BMI, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, and LDL in deficient PCOS women — especially those with obesity.
60 vitamin D-deficient PCOS women randomized to 2,000 IU vs. control for 12 weeks. Beneficial effects especially pronounced in women with obesity or insulin resistance.
PubMed →
Jain et al. · Retrospective study · n=176 · PubMed 39481002
Vitamin D deficiency found in 40.2% of PCOS patients vs. 24% of healthy controls. HOMA-IR and BMI both inversely correlated with vitamin D status.
25(OH)D significantly lower in PCOS women, with deficiency rates significantly higher than controls (p<0.05). Vitamin D receptor expression is reduced in the PCOS environment, creating a cycle where deficiency worsens the condition over time.
PubMed →
Zinc Bisglycinate
10mg elemental per serving
Zinc works by inhibiting 5-alpha reductase — the enzyme that converts testosterone to the more potent DHT — making it directly relevant to PCOS symptoms like hirsutism, acne, and hair thinning. The bisglycinate form is chosen for superior bioavailability.
Jamilian, Foroozanfard et al. · Biol Trace Elem Res · Double-blind RCT · n=48 · 8 weeks · PubMed 26315303
41.7% of women supplementing with zinc saw significant reduction in PCOS-related hair loss vs. 12.5% in the placebo group.
48 PCOS women randomized to 220mg zinc sulfate (50mg elemental zinc) or placebo for 8 weeks. Significant reductions in alopecia and hirsutism (modified Ferriman-Gallwey scores, p<0.001). Zinc inhibits 5-alpha reductase — the key driver of PCOS-related hair loss and hirsutism.
PubMed →
Nasiadek et al. · Nutrients · Review · 36 RCTs · PMC7468694
Zinc supplementation improved insulin resistance, lipid profile, and showed reductions in testosterone and DHEAS across 36 RCTs.
Review of 36 randomized controlled studies. Positive effects on insulin resistance markers, total antioxidant capacity, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Also demonstrated reductions in free testosterone and DHEAS in PCOS women.
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Chromium Picolinate
200mcg per serving
Chromium enhances insulin receptor activity and reduces insulin-driven androgen production. Multiple RCTs confirm it improves insulin sensitivity in PCOS at the 200mcg dose — and a 2025 meta-analysis found it outperformed metformin on HOMA-IR reduction.
Systematic Review + Meta-analysis · ScienceDirect · 2025 · PubMed 41067797
Chromium was more effective than metformin at reducing HOMA-IR and LH in PCOS — with fewer side effects.
Comprehensive meta-analysis vs. placebo and head-to-head with metformin. Chromium significantly decreased fasting insulin, triglycerides, LDL, total cholesterol, hs-CRP, FSH, and prolactin. Increased ovulation incidence (p=0.001). 200mcg was the dose at which benefits approximated metformin outcomes.
PubMed →
Fazelian et al. · Horm Metab Res · Double-blind RCT · n=64 · 2015 · PubMed 26279073
8 weeks of 200mcg chromium picolinate significantly reduced serum insulin and HOMA-IR in PCOS women.
64 PCOS women randomized to 200mcg CrP vs. placebo for 8 weeks. Significant decreases in serum insulin (p<0.001) and HOMA-IR (p<0.001). Also improved HOMA-B and triglycerides. Confirms 200mcg as a clinically effective therapeutic dose.
PubMed →
Fazelian et al. · Meta-analysis · 7 RCTs · 2017 · PubMed 28595797
Chromium picolinate significantly reduced BMI, fasting insulin, and free testosterone across 7 RCTs in PCOS.
Effect sizes: BMI −2.37 kg/m², free testosterone −0.52 pg/mL, fasting insulin −0.86 mIU/mL (all p=0.001). Insulin resistance significantly reduced (SMD −0.84, p=0.0004).
PubMed →
Ashoush et al. · J Obstet Gynaecol Res · Double-blind RCT · n=85 · PubMed 26663540
1,000mcg chromium picolinate significantly reduced insulin resistance and stimulated ovulation in PCOS over 6 months.
85 PCOS women, 6 months. Primary outcome (FGIR) significantly improved. Secondary outcomes: improved ovulation, cycle regularity, and reduced testosterone.
PubMed →
Methylfolate (5-MTHF)
400mcg active form per serving
A significant proportion of women with PCOS carry the MTHFR variant, which impairs their ability to convert standard folic acid into active folate. Nilara uses methylfolate (5-MTHF) — the bioavailable form that bypasses this conversion step entirely.
Condorelli et al. · RCT · n=100 · 6 months · PubMed 29265900
L-methylfolate outperformed folic acid: greater improvements in cycle regularity, testosterone, SHBG, cholesterol, and homocysteine.
100 PCOS women comparing myo-inositol + L-methylfolate vs. myo-inositol + folic acid for 6 months. The methylfolate group had significantly greater reductions in BMI, total testosterone, homocysteine, and cholesterol.
PubMed →
Li et al. · Meta-analysis · 22 studies · n=4,824 · PMC7004748
MTHFR C677T polymorphism significantly associated with PCOS risk — 40–90% elevated odds depending on genotype.
22 studies, 2,405 PCOS cases and 2,419 controls. Women with homozygous MTHFR variants cannot effectively convert folic acid to active folate — making methylfolate the only appropriate supplement form.
PMC →
Methylcobalamin B12
500mcg active form per serving
B12 deficiency is common in PCOS — both independently due to insulin resistance, and as a direct consequence of metformin use. Nilara uses methylcobalamin, the active neurological form, which is more readily utilized than cyanocobalamin.
Kamrul-Hasan et al. · Cureus · 2022 · PMC9674047
57.7% of metformin-treated PCOS patients had B12 deficiency or borderline deficiency — vs. 24% in drug-naive patients.
50 drug-naive vs. 52 metformin-treated PCOS patients. Median B12 272 pg/mL (metformin group) vs. 385.5 pg/mL (drug-naive), p<0.001. Confirms routine B12 monitoring and supplementation need in metformin-treated PCOS.
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Kaya et al. · Reprod Biomed Online · 2009 · PubMed 20021721
B12 levels significantly lower in obese PCOS women vs. obese controls — even before metformin use.
Obese PCOS women: B12 227.8 ± 99.2 vs. 317.6 ± 69.2 pg/mL in controls (p<0.05). Fasting insulin and HOMA-IR were independent determinants of B12 concentration — establishing baseline B12 deficit as a PCOS-specific risk, separate from medication use.
PubMed →
Cold-Pressed Hemp Protein
22g per serving
Complete amino acid profile, plant-based, no soy, creamy vanilla flavor. Valuable even for women on GLP-1s, where reduced appetite makes hitting daily protein targets harder and muscle preservation more critical. Cold-pressing preserves the full nutritional profile of hemp.
House et al. · J Agric Food Chem · 2010 · PubMed 20977230
Hemp protein contains all 9 essential amino acids with protein digestibility of 84–97% — equal to or greater than grains, nuts, and most pulses.
Hemp seed protein consists primarily of edestin (60–80%) and albumin — two highly digestible globular proteins. Cold-pressing is the minimal-processing gold standard for hemp: it extracts protein and fat without heat or solvents, preserving the full fatty acid profile (omega-3, omega-6, GLA) and native protein structure that makes hemp nutritionally distinctive.
PubMed →
Nosworthy et al. · Food Science & Nutrition · 2023 · PMC10630821
Hemp protein concentrate shows PDCAAS comparable to legumes, with in vitro digestibility of 89.5% — suitable as a primary protein source.
Hemp provides complete protein quality at a digestibility level comparable to lentils and beans. Cold-pressed hemp retains a naturally favorable omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of approximately 3:1 — the ratio broadly considered optimal for reducing systemic inflammation, which is elevated in most PCOS presentations.
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Gorissen & Witard · PLOS One · RCT · n=30 · 2021 · doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0340386
20g whey protein produced a significantly higher insulin peak than 20g pea protein — the insulin area under the curve was approximately 32% higher for whey.
Randomized crossover RCT comparing whey and pea protein co-ingested with glucose. Both proteins reduced the glycemic response, but whey drove a substantially larger insulin spike via leucine-mediated beta-cell stimulation and GIP/GLP-1 incretin release. For women with PCOS and pre-existing hyperinsulinemia, chronically amplified postprandial insulin is the core metabolic burden — which is why Nilara uses hemp rather than whey.
PLOS One →
Karakasis et al. · Metabolism · Network Meta-analysis · 22 RCTs · 2025 · PubMed 39719170
GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, tirzepatide) significantly reduced lean mass — lean mass loss comprised approximately 25% of total weight lost across 22 RCTs.
2,258 participants across 22 RCTs. Semaglutide was associated with lean mass loss comprising up to 40% of total weight loss in the STEP 1 trial. High-quality protein intake (1.2–1.6g/kg/day) is the primary evidence-based strategy for preserving lean mass during GLP-1 treatment — making adequate daily protein intake especially critical for PCOS women on these medications.
PubMed →
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