Inositol is a naturally occurring nutrient found in various forms, the most common being myo-inositol. Inositol is found in phospholipids which function as cellular mediators of signal transduction, in metabolic regulation, and growth. Myo-inositol is one of nine distinct isomers of inositol, and the terms are often used interchangeably. Inositol is essential for the growth of rodents, but not for most animals, including humans. Humans can make inositol in the body, which they do from glucose. Even though inositol is sometimes referred to as a vitamin, it is not a vitamin for humans. Myo-inositol is also known as inositol, hexahydroxycyclohexane, cyclohexanehexol, and mouse anti-alopecia factor.

Source Naturals Inositol supplement Powder, 8 ounces - 
Nature's Way Inositol supplement, 500 mg, 100 capsules
Inositol is a direct precursor of phospholipids which are a major component of cellular membranes. Inositol helps to maintain proper electrical energy and nutrient transfer across the cell membrane. It also acts as a lipotropic which converts fats into other useful products. inositol helps establish healthy cell membranes, which facilitate nerve impulses.

Nature's Way Inositol is 100% natural crystalline inositol. It contains no artificial ingredients or preservatives.

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Mind Power Rx with Inositol - Formulated by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Mind Power Rx with Inositol is a sophisticated cognitive formula. It combines a delicate balance of brain circulation agents and neurotransmitter precursors with powerful natural brain chemicals that support:

Memory and Mood
Mental clarity
Concentration 
Alertness and Focus

Why buy all the individual herbs and nutrients separately -- at great expense -- when you can buy this excellent combination? The herbs in Mind Power Rx include: Ashwagandha, Bacopa, Fo-Ti, Ginkgo biloba, Ginseng, Mucuna pruriens, Rhodiola, and Reishi.  The nutrients and vitamins in Mind Power Rx include Acetyl-l-carnitine, Carnitine, Carnosine, Choline, Inositol 30 mg, DMAE, Methylcobalamin, Pantothenic acid, Trimethylglycine, Tyrosine, and Vinpocetine.

Inositol in the diet
Inositol is present in our diet from both plant and animal sources, providing the adult human on a mixed North American diet with approximately 1 gram per day. The major dietary forms of myo-inositol are inositol hexaphosphate or phytic acid, which is widely found in cereals and legumes and associated with dietary fiber, and myo- inositol -containing phospholipids from animal and plant sources. Inositol is also found in nuts and fruits.

Inositol dosage
Always start with a lower dosage of one 500 mg capsule even though studies have used higher amounts. Do not take several grams at a time unless you have first tried a lower amount to see how your body reacts to it.

Inositol benefit for various medical and psychiatric conditions
Inositol supplements may benefit those with bipolar disorder, depression, impotence, obsessive-compulsive disorder, lung cancer, panic disorder, and polycystic ovary syndrome. This supplement could also be helpful in those with psoriasis who are on lithium medication. The inositol dosages used in most studies have been several grams. Whether smaller amounts of inositol benefit these conditions is not clear. Sometimes researchers choose dosages of medicines and supplements much higher than is required since they wish to elicit a quick response.

Inositol and depression
Controlled trials of inositol in psychiatry.
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 1997 May;7(2):147-55. Levine J. Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva, Israel.
Inositol is a simple polyol precursor in a second messenger system important in the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid inositol has been reported decreased in depression. A double-blind controlled trial of 12 grams daily of inositol in 28 depressed patients for four weeks was performed. Significant overall benefit for inositol compared to placebo was found at week 4 on the Hamilton Depression Scale. No changes were noted in hematology, kidney or liver function.

Inositol and impotence
Myoinositol and folic acid combination for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in type 2 diabetes men.
 Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2006 Sep-Oct. Agostini R, Rossi F, Pajalich R. First Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included 176 patients with type 2 diabetes. The daily 4 g dose of inositol plus 400 micrograms of folic acid or placebo was divided and given in three doses. The present study demonstrates that Myoinositol and folic acid combination deserves consideration as therapeutic agent for preventing and treating erectile dysfunction in diabetic men, probably by virtue of both their chronic metabolic, acute antioxidant properties, and nitric oxide protective beneficial effects.

Inositol and OCD
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in obsessive-compulsive disorder before and after treatment with inositol.
Metab Brain Dis. 2004 Jun;19(1-2):125-34.
Inositol, a glucose isomer and second messenger precursor, regulates numerous cellular functions and has demonstrated efficacy in obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD through mechanisms that remain unclear. The effect of inositol treatment on brain function in OCD has not been studied to date. Fourteen OCD subjects underwent single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) before and after 12 weeks of treatment with inositol supplements. There was 1) deactivation in OCD responders relative to nonresponders following treatment with inositol in the left superior temporal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus and precuneus, and the right paramedian post-central gyrus; 2) no significant regions of deactivation for the group as a whole posttreatment; and 3) a single cluster of higher perfusion in the left medial prefrontal region in responders compared to nonresponders at baseline. Significant reductions in OCD severity scores followed treatment. These data are only partly consistent with previous functional imaging work on OCD. They may support the idea that inositol effects a clinical response through alternate neuronal circuitry to the SSRIs and may complement animal work proposing an overlapping but distinct mechanism of action.

Inositol and panic disorder
Double-blind, controlled, crossover trial of inositol versus fluvoxamine for the treatment of panic disorder.
 Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheba, Israel.
J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2001 Jun;21(3):335-9.
Myo Inositol, a natural isomer of glucose and a precursor for the second-messenger phosphatidyl inositol system, has previously been found superior to placebo in the treatment of depression, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD, but a direct comparison with an established drug has never been performed. A double-blind, controlled, random-order crossover study was undertaken to compare the effect of inositol with that of fluvoxamine in panic disorder. Twenty patients completed 1 month of inositol up to 18 grams a day and 1 month of fluvoxamine up to 150 mg/day. Improvements on Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety scores, agoraphobia scores, and Clinical Global Impressions Scale scores were similar for both treatments. In the first month, inositol reduced the number of panic attacks per week by 4 compared with a reduction of 2.4 with fluvoxamine. Nausea and tiredness were more common with fluvoxamine. Because inositol is a natural compound with few known side effects, it is attractive to patients who are ambivalent about taking psychiatric medication.

Since many antidepressants are effective in panic disorder, twenty-one patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia completed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, four week, random-assignment crossover treatment trial of inositol 12 grams  per day. Frequency and severity of panic attacks and severity of agoraphobia declined significantly with inositol compared to placebo. Side-effects were minimal. Since serotonin re-uptake inhibitors benefit obsessive compulsive disorder OCD and inositol is reported to reverse desensitization of serotonin receptors, thirteen patients with OCD completed a double-blind controlled crossover trial of 18 g inositol or placebo for six weeks each. Inositol significantly reduced scores of OCD symptoms compared with placebo.

Myo inositol and lung cancer
A phase I study of myo-inositol for lung cancer chemoprevention.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2006 Aug. Lam S, McWilliams A, LeRiche J, MacAulay C, Wattenberg L, Szabo E.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, British Columbia Cancer Agency, British Columbia, Canada.
A phase I, open-label, multiple dose, dose-escalation clinical study was conducted to assess the safety, tolerability, maximum tolerated dose, and potential chemopreventive effect of myo-inositol in smokers with bronchial dysplasia. Smokers between 40 and 74 years of age with more than 30 pack-years of smoking history and one or more sites of bronchial dysplasia were enrolled. A dose escalation study ranging from 12 to 30 g/d of myo-inositol for a month was first conducted in 16 subjects to determine the maximum tolerated dose. Ten new subjects were then enrolled to take the maximum tolerated dose for 3 months. The potential chemopreventive effect of myo-inositol was estimated by repeat autofluorescence bronchoscopy and biopsy. The maximum tolerated dose was found to be 18 grams per day. Side effects, when present, were mild and mainly gastrointestinal in nature. A significant increase in the rate of regression of preexisting dysplastic lesions was observed versus placebo (91% versus 48%). A statistically significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressures by an average of 10 mm Hg was observed after taking 18 g/d of myo-inositol for a month or more. Myo-Inositol in a daily dose of 18 g orally for 3 months is safe and well tolerated.

Inositol and polycystic ovary syndrome
Effects of inositol on ovarian function and metabolic factors in women with PCOS: a randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial.
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2003 Nov-Dec;7(6):151-9.
Women with oligomenorrhea and polycystic ovaries show a high incidence of ovulation failure perhaps linked to insulin resistance and related metabolic features. A small number of reports shows that inositol improves ovarian function. The aim of this study was to use a double-blind, placebo-controlled approach with detailed assessment of ovarian activity to assess the validity of this therapeutic approach in this group of women. Of the 283 patients randomized, 2 withdrew before treatment commenced, 147 received placebo, and 136 received inositol (100 mg, twice a day). The ovulation frequency estimated by the ratio of luteal phase weeks to observation weeks was significantly higher in the treated group (23%) compared with the placebo (13%). The time in which the first ovulation occurred was significantly shorter. The number of patients failing to ovulate during the placebo-treatment period was higher in the placebo group, and in most cases ovulations were characterized by normal progesterone concentrations in both groups. The effect of inositol on follicular maturation was rapid, because the circulating concentration of E2 increased only in the inositol group during the first week of treatment. Significant weight loss (and leptin reduction) was recorded in the inositol group, whereas in the placebo group was recorded an increase of the weight. No change in fasting glucose concentrations, fasting insulin, or insulin responses to glucose challenge test was recorded after 14-wk of inositol and placebo therapy. There was an inverse relationship between body mass of the patients and the efficacy of the treatment. These data support a beneficial effect of inositol in improving ovarian function in women with oligomenorrhea and polycystic ovaries.

Inositol and psoriasis
The effect of inositol supplements on the psoriasis of patients taking lithium: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Br J Dermatol. 2004 May. Allan SJ, Kavanagh GM, Herd RM, Savin JA. Department of Dermatology, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, Fife, UK.
Lithium carbonate is the most widely used long-term treatment for bipolar affective disorders, but its ability to trigger and exacerbate psoriasis can become a major problem in patients for whom lithium is the only treatment option. Inositol depletion underlies the action of lithium in bipolar affective disorders and there are good theoretical reasons why the use of inositol supplements might be expected to help this group of patients. Fifteen patients with psoriasis, who were taking lithium, took part in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial comparing the effect of inositol supplements with those of a placebo (lactose). Changes in the severity of their psoriasis were measured by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores recorded before and after the different courses of treatment. The effect of inositol supplements on the psoriasis of 11 patients who were not taking lithium was evaluated in the same way. The inositol supplements had a significantly beneficial effect on the psoriasis of patients taking lithium. No such effect was detected on the psoriasis of patients not on lithium. The use of inositol supplements is worth considering for patients with intractable psoriasis who need to continue to take lithium for bipolar affective disorders.

Inositol supplements show no benefit in these conditions
Inositol supplements have not been found to benefit those with ADHD, Alzheimer's disease, autism, ECT-induced cognitive impairment, PMS, or schizophrenia.

ADHD - Oral inositol was studied in children with ADHD in a double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled manner. Eleven children, mean age 9 years were enrolled in an eight week trial of inositol or placebo at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. Results showed a trend for aggravation of the syndrome with myo-inositol as compared to placebo.

Alzheimer's disease - A double-blind controlled crossover trial of 6 g of inositol daily vs. glucose for one month each was carried out in eleven Alzheimer patients, with on clearly significant therapeutic effects.

Autism - A controlled double-blind crossover trial of inositol 200 mg/kg per day showed no benefit in nine children with autism.

EDT induced cognitive decline - Cholinergic agonists have been reported to ameliorate electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-induced memory impairment. Inositol metabolism is involved in the second messenger system for several muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Inositol 6 g daily was given in a crossover-double-blind manner for five days before the fifth or sixth ECT to a series of twelve patients, without effect.

Premenstrual syndrome - Myo inositol 12 grams daily was compared to placebo (d-glucose) administered at the same dose to patients with PMS. Each substance was given during the luteal phase only (14 days prior to menses). For each patient treatment alternated between these two drugs for six menstrual cycles. No beneficial effect was demonstrated for inositol over placebo.

Schizophrenia  - A controlled double-blind crossover trial of 12 g daily of inositol for a month in twelve anergic schizophrenic patients, did not show any beneficial effects.

Inositol mechanism of action
Myo-Inositol is synthesized from glucose-6-phosphate. Myo- inositol is metabolized to phosphatidylinositol, which makes up a small, but very significant, component of cell membranes.

Inositol emails
Q. I purchased pure inositol powder and am unsure how to take it.  Do I put it in a glass of juice or water?  How do I take it?
   A. Water or juice are both good options to take inositol powder.

Q. is there an difference between Myo- inositol and pure inositol?
   A. To the best of our knowledge, myo-inositol is an isomer of inositol and most likely has a similar effect to inositol. We are not 100% sure, though.

Q. I just learned about inositol as a treatment for OCD, and am enthused about taking it, but my understanding is that it is necessary to take inositol 18 g daily; in what form would I need to consume such a large amount? And does it need to be taken with food, at certain intervals of the day? I also read that it can be dangerous to take, if you take St. Johns Wort, so I would not take both.
   A. Whenever researchers do a study, they usually use dosages that are much higher than what normally may be necessary. It's difficult to say what the effective dose would be, but it would be safer to start with 500 mg the first few days and then see how things progress and gradually increase the dosage by 500 mg each few days. As with most supplements, it is better to learn how inositol works by itself and how St. John's wort works by itself before combining them.

Q. First of all, awesome web site. It has a LOT of great information that I've found very beneficial as of late. I have a question that I'm not sure if you can answer regarding inositol. I've been experimenting with relatively high 18g doses of inositol to combat moderate OCD symptoms, and so far I've had some success. OCD symptoms are still present, but I find I can let them go easier and move on quicker, which is much nicer. However, I've also noticed a fairly steep decline in sex drive, and I was wondering if inositol has ever been linked to this. I was also experimenting with 5-HTP and a supplement containing small amounts of melatonin, and I know both of those can have that affect, so I discontinued them, but perhaps I haven't given it enough time for that to return.) I hate to discontinue inositol if it's not likely a culprit, but if it could have this affect, I'd like to know.
   A. It's a good question. We don't know if high doses of inositol influence libido or sexual health. We do know that 5HTP and melatonin reduce sex drive, and perhaps the sexual side effects were due to these nutrients as opposed to the inositol supplements.

Q. Does inositol benefit heart disease?
   A. I have not come across studies evaluating the benefit of inositol in heart disease.

Q. Can you tell me about Inositol Nicotinate (Hexanicotinate).
   A. One website claims Inositol hexanicotinate functions as niacin without the characteristic "flush." Another says Inositol Hexanicotinate (IHN) is a special form of slow released niacin. However I don't have personal experience with this nutrient. We found a study from 1988 on Medline that says Hexopal (Hexanicotinate inositol) is safe and effective in reducing the vasospasm of primary Raynaud's disease during the winter months. See bottom of this page.

Q. I have taken inositol to prevent panic attacks and I recommended it for my sister's 10-year old daughter because she is now experiencing panic attacks. Inositol is working but the question is, what is a safe dose for a 10 year old child?
   A. We don't have experience using inositol in children. It may be a good idea to start with no more than 500 mg a day.

Q. Hello -- I am familiar with Dr. Sahelian -- Bottom Line sent me his book on Mind Boosting Secrets a couple of years ago... I just saw a fascinating TV program about Inositol ("Your Health with Dr. Richard Becker"). He discussed inositol and IP6 interchangeably. I then googled inositol, was lead to this site, and am very confused: what is the difference between inositol products and IP6 item? Inositol interests me as I suffered terribly with trichotillomania from childhood and for a couple of decades thereafter. Additionally, I understand that inositol could be beneficial as an anti-viral agent. Several years ago, I was struck by a virus that paralyzed me (albeit temporarily) from the waist down, and was told that this condition could return, or evolve into multiple sclerosis. Since then, I have become a health fanatic, eliminated all toxins, bad food, etc. from my diet, juice tons of greens daily, feel fabulous but am always vigilant -- re OCD, viruses, carcinogens, etc. So, which form of inositol do I take? Or, are they both the same?
   A. Inositol and IP-6 are different. IP-6, Inositol hexaphosphate, is also known as phytic acid and has been researched in terms of cancer prevention. To the best of my understanding, when inositol hexaphosphate is ingested in the diet, the body is able to cleave the inositol from the hexaphosphate part and use the inositol as needed. I am not sure how much of a difference there is in the mental or physical effects of taking an inositol supplement versus an IP-6 supplement.

Q. Q. I recently read an article on scyllo-inositol. Can you tell me about it?
   A. See scyllo-inositol. 

D- chiro- Inositol - Galactosamine
Natural carbohydrate can help lower blood sugar, Joseph Larner, M.D., Ph.D., professor emeritus and former chairman of the department of pharmacology at the University of Virginia Health System, has conducted research on a carbohydrate isolated from the liver that lowers blood sugar levels after it is injected into diabetic rats: "Our team believes this compound, called D-chiro- Inositol -Galactosamine, or INS2, acts as a messenger inside cells to switch on enzymes that regulate blood sugar, taking glucose from the bloodstream into the liver and muscles where it is stored. INS2 is naturally occurring in the body and is found in human blood. Our findings could lead to new drugs to treat Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease. Diabetes is a known risk factor for nerve and kidney damage, stroke, heart disease and blindness, among other complications. Some scientists think the complications are due to modifications in certain proteins and in how genes respond to insulin. We believe this molecule works by sending a message inside the cell to respond to insulin, which helps cells dispose of excess glucose."

D Chiro Inositol
Effects of d-chiro- inositol in lean women with the polycystic ovary syndrome.
Endocr Pract. 2002 Nov-Dec;8(6):417-23.
To determine whether the administration of D chiro inositol, a putative insulin-sensitizing drug, would affect the concentration of circulating insulin, the levels of serum androgens, and the frequency of ovulation in lean women with the polycystic ovary syndrome. In 20 lean women who had the polycystic ovary syndrome, treatment was initiated with either 600 mg of D chiro inositol or placebo orally once daily for 6 to 8 weeks. We performed oral glucose tolerance tests and measured serum sex steroids before and after therapy. To monitor for ovulation, we determined serum progesterone concentrations weekly. In the 10 women given D-chiro- inositol, the mean area under the plasma insulin curve after oral administration of glucose decreased significantly in comparison with no significant change in the placebo group. Concomitantly, the serum free testosterone concentration decreased by 73%, a significant change in comparison with essentially no change in the placebo group. Six of the 10 women (60%) in the D-chiro- inositol group ovulated in comparison with 2 of the 10 women (20%) in the placebo group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, as well as plasma triglyceride concentrations, decreased significantly in the D-chiro- inositol group in comparison with the placebo group, in which these variables either increased (blood pressure) or decreased minimally (triglycerides). We conclude that, in lean women with the polycystic ovary syndrome, D-chiro- inositol reduces circulating insulin, decreases serum androgens, and ameliorates some of the metabolic abnormalities (increased blood pressure and hypertriglyceridemia) of syndrome X.

Inositol Hexanicotinate
A double blind randomised placebo controlled trial of hexopal in primary Raynaud's disease.
Clin Rheumatol. 1988 Mar;7(1):46-9. University Department of Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Scotland.
Hexopal (Hexanicotinate inositol) has shown promise in uncontrolled studies and its use in patients with Raynaud's disease may reduce such vasospasm. This study examines the effects of 4 g/day of Inositol hexanicotinate or placebo, during cold weather, in 23 patients with primary Raynaud's disease. The Inositol hexanicotinate group felt subjectively better and had demonstrably shorter and fewer attacks of vasospasm during the trial period. Although the mechanism of action remains unclear Inositol hexanicotinate is safe and is effective in reducing the vasospasm of primary Raynaud's disease during the winter months.