Inositol - facts and information

Products with Inositol
NutraPack Ultra Vitality

Inositol, is often called to as "vitamin B8," and it is present in all animal tissues, with the highest levels in the heart and brain. It is part of the membranes of all cells, and aids the liver process fats as well as contributing to the function of muscles and nerves. Inositol may also be involved in depression. People who are depressed often have much lower-than-normal levels of inositol in their spinal fluid. In addition, inositol participates in the action of serotonin, a neurotransmitter known to be a factor in depression. (Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit messages between nerve cells.) For this reason, inositol has been proposed as a treatment for depression, and preliminary evidence suggests that it may be helpful. Inositol has also been tried for other psychological and nerve-related conditions.

SOURCES
Inositol is not thought to be an essential daily nutrient. However, nuts, seeds, beans, whole grains, cantaloupe, and citrus fruits supply a substance called phytic acid, which releases inositol when acted on by bacteria in the digestive tract. The typical American diet provides an estimated 1,000 mg as daily supplemental level.

USES
Preliminary double-blind studies suggest that high-d inositol may be useful for depression, panic disorder, Alzheimer's disease, obsessive compulsive disorder, and attention deficit disorder. Inositol is also sometimes proposed as a treatment for the complications of diabetes, specifically diabetic neuropathy, but there have been no placebo-controlled studies, and two uncontrolled studies had mixed results. Finally, inositol has been recommended for bipolar disorder although there is no scientific evidence to support this use.

Scientific research

Depression: Small double-blind studies have found inositol helped for depression. In one such trial, 28 depressed individuals were given a daily dose of 12g of inositol for 4 weeks. By the fourth week, the group who were receiving inositol showed a significant improvement compared to the placebo group.

Panic Disorder - People with panic disorder frequently develop panic attacks, often with no warning. The racing heartbeat, chest pressure, sweating, and other physical symptoms can be so intense that they are mistaken for a heart attack. A small double-blind study
(21 participants) found that people given 12g of inositol daily had fewer, and less severe, panic attacks as compared to the placebo group.

Safety Issues
No serious ill effects have been reported for inositol, even with a therapeutic dosage that equals about 18 times the average dietary intake. However, no long-term safety studies have been performed.

Inositol, is also known as: vitamin B8