Myo Inositol Supplement Benefits, Effects and How to Take

Ongoing research on myo inositol supplements continues to show that it may be effective as an agent for losing weight, controlling appetite by lowering leptin levels, and maintaining strong hair growth.

Myo inositol also has been shown to have positive effects on female reproductive matters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) such as improving ovarian functioning, enhancing egg quality, accommodating healthy follicular development, and increasing the chances of conception.

Myo inositol is the most common form of inositol, a vitamin-like carbohydrate that is integral to all animal life forms. Myo inositol is synthesized via phosphorylated glucose and is utilized as a go-to secondary messenger for delivering nerve impulses throughout the body and brain.

Taking Myo-inositol supplements may improve mood balance, improve insulin resistance in women with PCOS, and support cellular health and integrity.

While the body is capable of producing inositol in the kidneys (up to 2 g per day), studies have found dosages of up to 18 grams effective for different health needs when the body may be deficient. Increasing intake can be accommodated through choosing myo-inositol rich foods or by taking supplements in powder or capsule form.

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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The Need for Myo Inositol Supplements

Scientifically known as cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol, inositol is a common natural carbohydrate that demonstrates vitamin-like traits.

It was previously classified in the B-Vitamin family as Vitamin B8, although it is not an essential substance in the diet, which is the requirement for being considered a vitamin.

The body synthesizes a few grams or less of inositol daily via glucose, primarily in the kidneys.

Myo inositol is manufactured, mainly in the kidneys, in two basic steps. Glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) is required to initiate the process.

In the first step, G-6-P is isomerised to myo-inositol 1-phosphate via ISYNA1, a synthase protein enzyme of inositol triphosphate. Next, the myo-inositol 1-phosphate is dephosphorylated by IMPase (inositol monophosphatase). This results in free form myo inositol.

Inositol is a 6-fold cyclohexane polyol (alcohol sugar). It can exist as one of nine derived stereoisomers, which are compounds that have the same molecular makeup and differ solely via their atomic spatial arrangements.

Taste-wise, the sugar carbohydrate inositol is comparable to sucrose, only it is about half as sweet. Its highest dietary concentrations are found in organ meats, like livers, hearts, and brains.

More desirable options include fruits, especially bananas and melons, beans, legumes, green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, high bran cereals, and whole grains. Because inositol and its phosphorylated derivatives are so readily available in nature, deficiencies are rare.

However, levels may still become depleted or diminished by the following factors:

• Drinking too much coffee and/or alcohol
• Taking certain pharmaceutical drugs, especially sulfa antibiotic drugs or lithium
• Smoking tobacco products
• Excessive chronic stress

Benefits of Myo-Inositol Supplements

Myo inositol is one of those nine stereoisomers of inositol. It is the one that is most prevalent in nature. It acts to perform a wide range of mental and physical roles in the brain and body.

When you take a myo inositol supplement, you increase the bioavailable amount in your system. This may help to accommodate some of the following psychological and physiological functions.

Myo inositol molecules serve as the structural basis for a variety of secondary neurotransmission messengers. All major neurotransmitters including Dopamine and Serotonin utilize inositol, myo inositol, and other stereoisomers to relay their cellular messages.

Primary neurotransmitters cannot travel intracellularly and thus use secondary messengers derived from inositol to deliver these messages into the cellular nuclei. Because of this, myo-inositol and related compounds are currently being researched as natural remedies for depression and a variety of other mood disorders and mental conditions.

In eukaryotic cells, inositol and its phosphates regulate cell apoptosis, migration, and more. Additionally, inositol along with choline is a primary constituent of the phospholipid bilayer that envelops all eukaryotic cells. The group of lipids that accommodate cell structure integrity are called phosphatidylinositol phosphate lipids, less complexly known as PIP lipids.

Other functions of myo-inositol include transducing insulin signals, regulating intracellular Ca2+ levels, emulsifying fats and potentially promoting weight loss, maintaining cellular membrane potential, guiding nerve signals, and expressing genetic traits. Throughout the body, myo inositol and other forms of inositol act to perform a vast array of roles that are imperative to sustaining life.

Myo Inositol Pills for PCOS

Clinical research has concluded that there is a link between the development of PCOS and myo inositol. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is also known as Stein-Leventhal Syndrome and/or hyperandrogenic anovulation (HA).

Among women, PCOS is one of the most prevalent disorders of the endocrine system. It is largely thought to be a disease of genetic influence, but the exact causes remain unknown. Insulin insensitivity causes elevated levels of insulin in the body, which in turn causes the ovaries to produce too much testosterone. Normal hormonal balances can become disrupted, leading to enlarged ovaries full of follicular cysts.

In research studies, taking a myo-inositol supplement along with a D-Chiro Inositol supplement in a 40:1 ratio has been found to alleviate many of the symptoms of this condition and improve the function of female reproductive systems. Using an inositol supplement has been seen to increase insulin sensitivity, decrease triglyceride and testosterone levels, improve androgenic effects, decrease blood pressure, and induce ovulation in trials on PCOS women.

The Natural Medicines database has rated Inositol as Possibly Effective for improving lithium-induced side effects, OCD, panic disorder, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and respiratory distress syndrome in premature babies. While research has been promising, more large-scale double-blind placebo-controlled studies are still needed to fully determine the effects supplemental inositol may have in the body.

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.

Are Myo Inositol Supplements Safe?

For those considering buying a myo inositol supplement, it is always best to consult with a licensed doctor or nutritionist first. In the rare cases where side effects have been reported concerning taking a myo-inositol supplement, they have been quite mild, including headaches, dizziness, nausea, and upset stomach.

Although all forms of inositol have been repeatedly shown to be safe as supplements, there are some instances where supplementation may not be advisable. Pregnant and/or nursing women should not use any supplements without their doctor’s approval. Those who will be having any upcoming surgical procedures performed should discontinue taking myo inositol supplements at least a couple weeks before.

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