Inositol Effects on your Brain & Body

If you are thinking about trying the nutritional supplement Inositol, it may surprise you to learn about the many beneficial health effects of this natural compound.

Using Inositol to improve brain health is quite common and it is known to have a positive effect on mood and memory especially when used with Choline.

User reviews say that it will help you optimize your energy levels while having an uplifting effect on mood and Serotonin activity.

This nutrient which occurs naturally within the human body and many foods may also improve insulin sensitivity and increase the rate at which fat is broken down in the body. Continue reading to learn more about the reported Inositol effects on your brain as well as your whole body.

Inositol

Nutrient Supplement

Brain Health

Mood

Weight Loss

How It Works:

• Supports brain & liver health
• Involved in mood regulation & nerve signalling
• Improves insulin sensitivity for PCOS, fertility & weight loss

Dosage:

Between 500 mg - 18 g per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Overview of Inositol Effects

Inositol is a carbohydrate produced from glucose with a sugar-like taste.

You will find it in food sources such as beans, nuts, grains, and fruits. However, only half of the food sources of Inositol are bioavailable.

When it occurs in lecithins (like soy) it can be absorbed into the blood. But when found in beans and grains it is bound to phytates which makes it unavailable to your body.

For this reason, using lecithin supplements or forms of Inositol powder are often necessary to increase your intake of this compound.

Inositol is sometimes called Vitamin B8 and is frequently cited as a memory of the B-complex family of vitamins. But as research has uncovered more about how this nutrient works, we now know that it does not technically meet the qualifications of what it means to be a B vitamin.

That being said, it still plays a critical role in the body and its importance should not be understated. Inositol is involved in the synthesis of biochemical messengers and is known to potentiate the binding of certain neurotransmitters to their receptors in the brain.

It increases Cholinergic as well as GABAergic activity and a secondary neurochemical that is created from Inositol is known to modulate Serotonin receptors. All of these effects of Inositol can influence your mood as well as cognitive function.

Inositol Effects and Depression

Taking Inositol for depression has become more commonplace since it was reported that people with low levels of Inositol in their bodies have a much higher chance of suffering some type of mental illness including bipolar disorder.

User reviews of Inositol powder say that it can alleviate mood swings as well as the fatigue and lack of motivation that comes with depression. It is known to increase mental energy and drive while stabilizing your mood and even producing a more positive outlook.

One of the ways this seems to work is by increasing activity of Serotonin receptors in the brain. This neurotransmitter is intimately connected to mood and feelings of well-being.

Research on inositol effects on depression has been somewhat contradictory. One research study found that the  overall improvement in scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was significantly greater for depressed patients given inositol than for placebo patients after 4 weeks.

Another study on inositol use for depression found similar results, with inositol patients having better scores than placebo patients during the trial period. This study also continued to monitor the patients after cessation of the treatment and found that rating scale scores relapsed rapidly after inositol discontinuation for half of the patients who had responded well to inositol, whereas none of those who responded to placebo relapsed rapidly after treatment cessation.

Another study had more positive results though. A double-blind study from Langone Medical School determined that after the 4 week trial the treatment group who took 12 g of inositol a day showed significant improvements while the placebo group showed no observable differences in depression symptoms.

More research is still needed to fully understand the use of inositol for depression, and repetition of these results is crucial.

Inositol and Anxiety

Another related Inositol effect that is being studied is reducing levels of anxiety and stress in the brain. Using this nootropic has been observed to enhance the binding process that occurs at Type A GABA receptors on your neurons.

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter which is used to regulate brain activity and prevent over-excitement of certain neural pathways. Overstimulation can lead to feelings of anxiety, fear, dread, stress, and an inability to stop focusing on some negative stimulus.

By increasing the efficiency of GABA transmission in the brain, Inositol may be able to prevent the onset of anxiety as well as panic attacks, helping you to maintain a more balanced mood.

The research on Inositol use for anxiety is very limited, and more research is still needed to fully understand Inositol’s effects.

Inositol, Metabolism, and Insulin

Inositol is also a frequent ingredient in weight loss products because it can boost fat metabolism. Studies as far back as 1944 show the lipotropic effects of Inositol, especially in breaking down fats within the liver.

Inositol and choline are commonly paired together to prevent the excessive buildup of fat in the liver and helping to transport lipids away from these danger zones. More recent studies show that supplementation can reduce blood triglyceride levels, particularly in women. Not only that, but it also appears to raise the levels of “good” HDL cholesterol by up to 22%.

Another interesting benefit of Inositol is that it serves to increase insulin sensitivity. This can be a huge benefit for diabetics as well as people who are at risk for developing diabetes.

People with a history of high blood sugar may see positive Inositol effects. It is even used as a life-extension supplement by individuals concerned with the health risks of glycation.

Body builders and other weight training athletes will also appreciate the insulin-like activity of Inositol. Since insulin is highly anabolic, it is thought that taking Inositol could have similar effects, leading to increased strength and faster muscle building. It may also increase creatine absorption, which is another highly anabolic nutrient.

The Natural Medicines database has rated Inositol as Possibly Effective for improving lithium-induced side effects, OCD, panic disorder, polycystic ovary syndrome, and respiratory distress syndrome. While research has been promising, more large-scale double-blind placebo-controlled studies are still needed to confirm the results of smaller studies.

At this time, Inositol is available as a dietary supplement only, and the FDA has not approved Inositol as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions.

How to Take Inositol

Depending on the specific Inositol effects you are looking for, there are different ways of taking this nutrient. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor to determine the best Inositol dosage for your personal needs and sensitivities.

Inositol has been rated as Possibly Safe when used orally and appropriately. It is regarded as a well-tolerated supplement with a low occurrence of side effects. This is likely due to the fact that Inositol occurs naturally in the human body and your physiology is already used to the effects of this compound.

The main side effects which have been noted in the clinical literature are limited to diarrhea and other mild stomach issues. Just make sure not to take an excessive amount and for most users Inositol side effects should be virtually non-existent.

As a supplement, Inositol responds very well to the principle of stacking. In other words, by combining two or more different compounds at the same time, you can have synergistic effects that you may not have with the two supplements alone. In the case of Inositol, there are a number of interesting and effective potential stacks.

The first supplement to add would be Choline. Using Choline with Inositol is thought to help potentiate the ability to break down fats in the liver. Together, they produce a new compound known as lecithin, which is primarily responsible for this effect.

You might also want to consider adding Biotin, a type of B vitamin. If you are primarily taking Inositol powder to help you lose weight, you may want to stack it with caffeine and L-Carnitine.

If you are interested in taking Inositol for depression or anxiety while generally supporting mental energy and mood, a good stack may be Inositol, Choline, Aniracetam, and Sulbutiamine. All of these compounds are observed to have a positive influence on mood while helping to limit the experience of stress and anxious thoughts. A suitable dosage for this stack would be between 500 mg to 2,000 mg per day. You will want to experiment with different dosages to determine which one works best for your needs.

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