Inositol Supplement Effects & How it Works

Inositol is a psuedovitamin that is used as a brain supplement for enhancing the mood and energy levels. It is similar structurally to the B-family of vitamins, and is sometimes even called vitamin B8 (although it is not technically a vitamin).

This natural nootropic compound is found in a number of foods such as grains, nuts, beans, and fruits. It is also produced by the human body and was originally discovered as a component of human spinal fluid.

Humans consume about a gram of Inositol each day and the kidneys make about another 2 grams. It is believed that there are a number of brain benefits from taking Inositol supplements, including improved mood, more focus, and better thought processing.

This naturally occurring chemical is also implicated in many other physiological functions and plays a vital role in the firing of your neurons. People have used it for depression, anxiety, OCD, and boosting mental productivity.

This article will provide an in-depth review of what Inositol is, how it works in the body, the range of benefits delivered, as well as dosage, usage, and side effect information.

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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What Is Inositol?

Inositol is a type of carbohydrate sugar alcohol and an isomer of glucose.

There are actually nine different varieties of this supplement which are mainly found within cell membranes. The most common form is called myo-inositol, and is typically the form that is referred to when discussing inositol in general.

The primary uses of this natural chemical is for transporting fat throughout the body. This nutrient also helps the neurons within the central nervous system produce energy and communicate via neurotransmitters.

Inositol is a substrate or a building block that is used to help synthesize a number of different compounds necessary for your cells to function. It is transmuted inside the body into many different forms and transported throughout the body.

Inositol functions together with Choline which is why you will often find products for sale containing choline and inositol stacked together.

How Inositol Works in the Body

This supplement works in several different ways. The first of these is the facilitation of the opening of calcium channels within the brain. These stores are critical for neurotransmitters to be released and take effect.

One of these neurotransmitters that sees greater activity when taking Inositol is Serotonin. This neurochemical is involved in the regulation of your mood and sleep patterns. Inositol is also critical in gene expression although the exact routes and methods are unclear.

Finally, this pseudovitamin aids in the process of neurogenesis, or the creation of neurons within the brain. In this respect it is thought that Inositol may be able to contribute to long-term brain health and prevent cognitive decline with age.

Benefits Of Inositol

Some of the main benefits of Inositol are related to improved brain efficiency and enhanced mood. Low levels of Inositol are implicated in cases of depression and supplementation is believed to improve your mental outlook. As negative feelings and anxiety are reduced, this can also often lead to greater levels of productivity.

Having proper levels of this compound in the body is thought to also lessen the characteristic symptoms of fatigue associated with depression, giving you better energy metabolism. Many reviews also report that this nootropic makes their brain feel like it is working at a faster firing rate with better intellectual processing and computations.

Other benefits include lower cholesterol levels and less accumulation of fat in the heart, arteries and brain. When Inositol combines with Choline it produces lecithin which is integral in the breakdown of fats within the body. There have also been a number of studies showing that this supplement may actually improve the strength and health of your hair as well as aiding in its growth.

Inositol has been formally studied for some of its mental effects, including effects on obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and depression.

One study found that OCD patients who took 18 g of inositol orally for 6 weeks had significant improvement compared to when they took a placebo based on their Yale-Brown Compulsive Scale scores. The trial, while robust in its methodology, was relatively small in its sample size (13 patients) and larger trials are needed to confirm these results.

In research studies, inositol seems to reduce the severity and rate of panic attacks and the severity of agoraphobia (fear of not being able to escape certain situations or places) over 4 weeks of treatment. There has been some research done that even indicates that insitol may be as effective as fluvoxamine (Luvox) for the treatment of panic disorder.

Research on inositol use for 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. However the researchers also continued to monitor the patients after cessation of the treatment with inositol or placebo.

The researchers found that half of the patients who had responded well to inositol relapsed rapidly after inositol discontinuation whereas none of those who responded to placebo relapsed rapidly after placebo cessation. More research is still needed to fully understand the use of inositol for depression, and repetition of these results is crucial.

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.

Inositol Dosage Levels

Depending on your intended reason for taking this nootropic, there are different Inositol dosages recommended. Most users take anywhere between 500 mg and several grams a day. This can be split into several different administrations throughout the day. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor to help determine the best dosage for your personal needs.

It is common practive to determine your personal dosage level based on some trial and error. You can begin with a lower dose and then work your way up from there. The main thing is to pay close attention to how your body responds and the effects which are felt.

Since there is a lot of evidence for the use of Inositol in conjunction with Choline, a great potential stack would be using both of these supplements together. You may want to stack Inositol with one of the higher quality choline sources such as CDP Choline (Citicoline) or Alpha GPC for the best results.

It is often advised to use these compounds in a 1:1 ratio, though again you should determine what works best for you with some controlled experimentation.

Inositol Side Effects

While Inositol is generally very well-tolerated with few side effects being reported, there are some to watch out for. These are generally very mild and can include headache, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, nervousness, and some additional GI issues.

If you experience any of these Inositol side effects, the best course of action is to reduce the dosage. If the side effects do not improve, then consider taking a few days off and start up again later (albeit at a reduced dosage level).

There are no known interactions with Inositol and any medications or other supplements, however it is always recommended that you speak with your doctor to determine if any new supplement is right for your needs.

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