Scyllo-Inositol by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Inositol levels measured in postmortem brain of unipolar, bipolar and schizophrenic patients, suicide victims and normal controls showed no difference in scyllo-inositol levels in frontal or occipital cortex between any of the groups.

Scyllo-Inositol and Alcoholism

Chronic alcoholism is associated with a hitherto unrecognized accumulation of brain scyllo-inositol. Results suggest that scyllo-inositol is produced within the central nervous system and shows a diffuse but heterogenous distribution in brain where it can persist several weeks after detoxification. Its highest levels are observed in subjects with a clinically symptomatic alcohol-related encephalopathy. When detected, brain scyllo-inositol takes part in a metabolic encephalopathy since it is associated with reduced N-acetylaspartate and increased creatine. High levels of cerebral scyllo-inositol are correlated with altered glial and neuronal metabolism. The accumulation of scyllo-inositol may precede and take part in the development of symptomatic alcoholic metabolic encephalopathy.

Scyllo-inositol in normal aging human brain: 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy study at 4 Tesla.
NMR Biomed. 2005 Feb;18(1):51-5.Department of Radiology, University of California-San Francisco, MR Unit VA Medical Center at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94141
The scyllo-inositol and myo-inositol concentrations of 24 normal human subjects were measured in vivo using 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Test-retest studies performed on 10 normal subjects demonstrated coefficient of variation for scyllo-inositol measurement of 37%, compared with 6% for N-acetyl aspartate. Comparisons between old and young subjects showed higher concentration of scyllo-inositol and myo-inositol in older subjects and a trend for a correlation between scyllo-inositol and myo-inositol levels across subjects.

Scyllo-inositol - Scyllitol questions

Q. I recently read an article (press release of June 11, 2006) that researchers found that a diet supplemented with scyllo-inositol (scyllitol, cocositol, quercinitol) restored the mental abilities of mice genetically engineered to get Alzheimer's disease. In fact, they said that autopsies revealed that the amyloid beta plaques had been dissolved. Granted, this research was done on mice. But I figured that since this was a naturally occurring plant sugar, found in such plants as the coconut palm and white oak, it would be worth a try. I've been looking for a company producing a scyllitol supplement. I haven't been able to find one, or a process for concentrating scyllitol from plant sources. Of course the question is, where can I find this stuff?
   A. We have little knowledge or experience with this substance.