Inositol

Inositol is a substance found naturally in cantaloupe, citrus fruit, and many fiber-rich foods (such as beans, brown rice, corn, sesame seeds, and wheat bran). It is also sold in supplement form and used as a complementary therapy to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including metabolic and mood disorders.

Inositol is often referred to as vitamin B8, but it is not actually a vitamin. It’s a type of sugar that influences the insulin response and several hormones associated with mood and cognition. Inositol also has antioxidant properties that fight the damaging effects of free radicals in the brain, circulatory system, and other body tissues.

D-chiro-inositol, inositol hexaphosphate (often referred to as “IP6”) and the compound myo-inositol are the most widely used inositol supplements. They are generally considered safe if taken appropriately.

Commonly Known As

  • inositol
  • D-chiro-inositol
  • inositol hexaphosphate (or “IP6”)
  • myo-inositol

Health Benefits

Alternative health providers recommend inositol supplements for a wide range of health conditions, including:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Panic disorder
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

In addition, inositol is believed by some to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and prevent certain cancers. Some people also use inositol to promote hair growth or overcome insomnia. Research, however, is lacking.

According to the latest research, inositol may be beneficial for some disorders, including mental health issues, PCOS, and metabolic disorders. Here’s a closer look at the science.

Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Inositol is believed to improve depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders by stimulating the production of the “feel-good” hormones serotonin and dopamine. The hypothesis is largely supported by research in which myo-inositol concentrations in blood is suggested a reliable marker for clinical depression.

The benefits have mostly been seen in people with panic disorder (PD) in whom depression is common. A small study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology investigated the effect of myo-inositol on 20 people with PD.

After being provided a daily 18-gram dose of myo-inositol for four weeks, the participants were given a daily 150-mg dose of Luvox (fluvoxamine)—a commonly prescribed psychiatric drug—for the four weeks. When compared to a matched set of individuals not given myo-inositol, those who did had an average of 2.4 fewer panic attacks per week.

A number of other studies have investigated the use of inositol with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) used to treat a variety of depressive and anxiety disorders. The results have thus far been inconclusive.

While an earlier double-blind study found that a daily 12-gram dose of inositol improved depression scores compared to people provided a placebo, the results have not been replicated elsewhere.

In addition to panic disorder, inositol may be useful in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) given its effect on serotonin and dopamine levels.

Metabolic Disorders

There is evidence to suggest inositol can correct may metabolic disorders that contribute to the development of high blood pressure, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

A 2016 pilot study published in the International Journal of Endocrinology reported that people with type 2 diabetes given myo-inositol and d-chiro-inositol daily along with their anti-diabetes drugs had a significant drop in their fasting blood glucose (192.6 mg/dL down to 160.9 mg/dL) and A1C (8.6 percent down to 7.7 percent) after three months.

Another small study published in the journal Menopause suggested that myo-inositol may aid in the treatment of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women. According to the research, women assigned to six months of myo-inositol supplements experienced significantly greater improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels than women provided a placebo.

When treated with myo-inositol, women with metabolic syndrome experienced an 11 percent drop in diastolic blood pressure, a 20 percent drop in triglycerides, and a 22 percent increase in “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

All of these values translate to an improvement of metabolic syndrome as well as a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

D-chiro-inositol may help manage PCOS, according to a small study published in Endocrine Practice. For this study, 20 women with PCOS were given either a placebo or 6 grams of D-chiro-inositol once daily for six to eight weeks.

The results revealed that D-chiro-inositol helped treat several abnormalities associated with PCOS, including high blood pressure and elevated levels of blood fats. In addition, elevated testosterone levels (consistent with PCOS-related hormone imbalances) decreased by 73 percent compared to 0 percent for those given a placebo.

Generally speaking, a normalization of hormonal balances translates to an improvement of PCOS symptoms.

Other Benefits

Inositol has also been found to reduce psoriasis symptoms in people taking lithium, a drug commonly prescribed to treat bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and eating disorders. Depending on the usage, lithium-induced psoriasis can affect anywhere from 3 percent to 45 percent of users.