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Inositol is a sugar made in the body and found in foods. It can be found in nine forms. Myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol are most common in supplements.
Inositol might balance certain chemicals in the body to help with mental conditions such as panic disorder, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It might also help insulin work better.
People use inositol for metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and for reducing the risk of preterm birth. It's also used for insomnia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Don't confuse inositol with inositol nicotinate or IP-6. These are not the same.
- Metabolic syndrome. Oral inositol seems to modestly improve lipid parameters, blood pressure, and insulin resistance in patients with metabolic syndrome.
Login for details - Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Oral inositol, often in combination with folic acid, seems to improve glycemic and lipid parameters, as well as ovulation and pregnancy rates, in some patients with PCOS.
Login for details - Preterm labor. Oral inositol in combination with folic acid seems to prevent preterm labor in individuals at risk for gestational diabetes.
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- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Oral or intravenous inositol does not seem to prevent ARDS in preterm infants and may be associated with worsened outcomes.
Login for details - Anxiety. Oral inositol does not seem to be beneficial for patients with anxiety.
Login for details - Depression. Oral inositol does not seem to be beneficial for patients with depression.
Login for details - Diabetic neuropathy. Oral inositol does not seem to be beneficial for patients with diabetic neuropathy.
Login for details - Retinopathy of prematurity. Oral or intravenous inositol does not seem to prevent retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants.
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- Age-related testosterone deficiency. It is unclear if oral D-chiro-inositol is beneficial in patients with age-related testosterone deficiency.
Login for details - Bipolar disorder. It is unclear if oral inositol is beneficial in patients with bipolar disorder.
Login for details - Chemotherapy-induced leukopenia. Oral inositol has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Diabetes. It is unclear if oral inositol is beneficial for the treatment of type 1 diabetes or the prevention of gestational diabetes.
Login for details - Dyslipidemia. Login for details
- Hypertension. Login for details
- Infertility. It is unclear if oral inositol is beneficial in patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Login for details - Insomnia. It is unclear if oral inositol is beneficial for improving sleep during pregnancy.
Login for details - Lithium-induced side effects. It is unclear if oral inositol is beneficial for reducing lithium-induced side effects.
Login for details - Lung cancer. It is unclear if oral inositol is beneficial for slowing the rate of bronchial dysplasia.
Login for details - Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is unclear if oral inositol is beneficial in patients with OCD.
Login for details - Panic disorder. Oral inositol seems to improve symptoms of panic disorder.
Login for details - Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is unclear if oral inositol is beneficial in patients with PTSD.
Login for details - Pregnancy-induced hypertension. It is unclear if oral inositol is beneficial for preventing hypertension during pregnancy.
Login for details - Psoriasis. It is unclear if oral or topical inositol is beneficial for improving symptoms of psoriasis.
Login for details - Trichotillomania. It is unclear if oral inositol is beneficial for reducing hair pulling.
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When taken by mouth: Inositol is possibly safe for most adults when used for up to 10 weeks. It might cause diarrhea, gas, and nausea in some people.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if inositol is safe or what the side effects might be.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: Inositol is possibly safe when taken by mouth, short-term. Doses of up to 4000 mg of myo-inositol daily have been used with apparent safety.Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if inositol is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Children: Inositol is possibly safe when taken by mouth for up to 12 weeks in children ages 5-12 years old.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Inositol might lower blood sugar levels. Taking inositol along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Inositol might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
There are no known interactions with foods.
Inositol is a sugar alcohol found in foods such as cereals, corn, meat, citrus fruits, and legumes.
As medicine, inositol has most often been used by adults in doses of 1-4 grams by mouth daily. It's often taken together with 200-400 mcg of folic acid daily. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
1,2,3,4,5,6-Cyclohexanehexol, 1,2,5/3,4,6-inositol, (1S)-inositol, (1S)-1,2,4/3,5,6-inositol, Antialopecia Factor, (+)-chiroinositol, cis-1,2,3,5-trans-4,6-Cyclohexanehexol, Cyclohexitol, Dambrose, D-chiro-inositol, D-Myo-Inositol, Facteur Anti-alopécique, Hexahydroxycyclohexane, Inose, Inosite, Inositol Monophosphate, Lipositol, Meso-Inositol, Méso-Inositol, Monophosphate d'Inositol, Mouse Antialopecia Factor, Myo-Inositol, Vitamin B8, Vitamine B8.
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