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Inositol is a vitamin-like substance. It is found in many plants and animals. It is also produced in the human body and can be made in a laboratory. Inositol can be found in many forms (called isomers). The most common forms are myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol.
Inositol is used to for metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It's also used for many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
- 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 actually 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 in preterm infants.
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- Bipolar disorder. It is unclear if oral inositol is beneficial in patients with bipolar disorder.
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 female 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 (hair pulling). It is unclear if oral inositol is beneficial for reducing hair pulling.
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Inositol might balance certain chemicals in the body to possibly help with mental conditions such as panic disorder, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It might also help insulin work better. This might help with conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome or diabetes during pregnancy.
When taken by mouth: Inositol is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth. It may cause nausea, stomach pain, tiredness, headache, and dizziness 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:
Children: Inositol is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth for up to 12 weeks in children ages 5-12 years old. It is also POSSIBLY SAFE when used in the hospital for premature infants with a sudden and serious lung condition (acute respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS) for up to 10 days. However, inositol is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when used for longer than 10 days in premature infants with ARDS.Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Inositol is POSSIBLY SAFEwhen taken by mouth during pregnancy. 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.
There are no known interactions with medications. Before taking this product, talk with your health professional if you take any medications.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Inositol might lower blood sugar. Using it with other herbs or supplements that also have this effect might lower blood sugar too much. Other herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar include agaricus mushroom, banaba, bitter melon, cowhage, devil's claw, fenugreek, ginger, glucomannan, goat's rue, guar gum, kudzu, Panax ginseng, Siberian ginseng, willow bark and others.
There are no known interactions with foods.
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
ADULTS
BY MOUTH:
- For a grouping of symptoms that increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke (metabolic syndrome): 2 grams of a certain form of inositol (isomer myo-inositol) has been taken twice per day for one year.
- For a hormonal disorder that causes enlarged ovaries with cysts (polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS): 1000 to 1200 mg of a certain form of inositol (isomer D-chiro-inositol) has been used. Also, a product containing 4 grams of another form of inositol (isomer myo-inositol) plus 400 mcg of folic acid has been taken daily for up to 6 months. A combination of 550 mg of myo-inositol and 150 mg of D-chiro-inositol has also been taken twice daily for up to 12 weeks.
- For preventing preterm birth: 2 grams of a certain form of inositol (isomer myo-inositol) plus 200 mcg of folic acid has been taken twice daily throughout pregnancy. 1100 mg of myo-inositol plus 27.6 mg of another form of inositol (isomer D-chiro-inositol) and 400 mcg of folic acid has been taken daily throughout pregnancy.
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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