Vitamin B8 (Inositol) Benefits for Brain Power

Vitamin B8 supplements (also known as Inositol) provide unique benefits for mind and body not found in other B Complex vitamins.

Inositol or B8 exhibits strong stress and anxiety relief properties. In fact, it has been used as a treatment for more serious cognitive imbalances such as OCD, PTSD, panic attacks, and clinical depression.

Most people who take Inositol do so as a part of a B multi-vitamin combo pill. However, mood and cognitive function can be dramatically improved by specifically supplementing with Vitamin B8 on its own or especially in combination with other nootropics like Choline-boosters.

Here’s what we know about the benefits, mechanisms, and side effects of this popular natural anti-depressant.

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

Top Inositol Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Why Are The B Vitamins Important?

B vitamins have long been regarded as nature’s stress reliever.

Long before prescription anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds became popular, people took B vitamin supplements to help achieve a state of emotional calm and to relieve stress and panic.

In fact, humans have been using the B vitamins since ancient times without knowing it – B vitamins are very commonly found in a broad range of natural food sources, such as grains, greens like kale and spinach, eggs, milk, avocado, and some meats.

When these essential nutrients are deficient, common maladies like anemia, acne, water retention, and memory loss are possible. The B vitamins’ connection to memory and cognition is very evident in the relationship of Inositol, a carbohydrate, to good mood and proper cognitive function.

Low levels of Inositol or B8 can be linked to increased feelings of anxiety, OCD symptoms, and symptoms of depression. A Vitamin B8 supplement can remedy this imbalance, promoting a healthy emotional life with regular daily use.

Specific Benefits of Vitamin B8 (Inositol)

Vitamin B8 is frequently taken as a part of the famous “B-complex” of vitamins, which includes Thiamine, Biotin, and Riboflavin, among others. While all of these nutrients seem to harmonize well in the lifting of mood, Inositol specifically seems to provide several unique cognitive benefits.

Inositol lifts overall serotonin levels to create a pervasive feeling of emotional pleasure and calm control. It also fosters a feeling of vibrant, easy-flowing thoughts and heightened mental energy.

This “clear” feeling is not an amphetamine-like high, nor is it the blunting of emotions so often associated with prescription anti-depressants. Vitamin B8 naturally and gently lifts mood and makes daily stress much easier to manage. In the case of chronic conditions such as OCD or regular panic attacks, a daily dose of Inositol can keep symptoms at bay before they happen.

When combined with exercise, Inositol builds on the proven stress-relieving qualities of athletics to enhance confidence and mental stamina. It also aids in the burning of fats with heightened metabolism.

How Does Vitamin B8 Work?

Perhaps because it is integral to so many of our staple food sources, the body has found countless ways to put Inositol or Vitamin B8 to work.

One of its main functions is to help break down fat and then transport lipids away from cells. This action fires metabolism and may be responsible for the supplement’s weight loss effects.

Overall, the presence of Inositol elevates levels of good HDL cholesterol. This results in better blood flow through the arteries and lower blood pressure overall. Because of this, high blood pressure stress reactions are also protected against.

In the brain, Vitamin B8 works with calcium to increase the mobility of neurotransmitters like serotonin. Inositol also activates GABAergic receptors, resulting in the calming of over-firing nerves. It increases cell signaling, and triggers the growth of new neurons, a process known as neurogenesis.

The net result is the subjective perception of bright, clear thoughts, an end to “brain fog,” and an overall elevated mood. Nagging, anxious thought cycles are easier to identify and release, while stress triggers feel more manageable.

These qualities make a Vitamin B8 supplement perfect for people suffering from anxiety and depression, whether at acute serious levels, or simply at a low point during a typical day.

Do B Vitamins Have Side Effects?

B Vitamins like Inositol do not have any serious side effects whatsoever. Perhaps due to humanity’s long-standing relationship with foods containing B8, the body is able to fully process a broad range of dosages with no negative repercussions.

At very extreme dosages, it is possible to experience some stomach upset and perhaps dizziness. But this is very rare and strictly a case of dramatic overdose. The water solubility of Inositol acts as a safeguard against toxicity. If too much is consumed, the vitamin can be easily and swiftly degraded and expelled.

How to Use Vitamin B8?

An Inositol Vitamin B8 pill can be safely consumed daily as a part of a regular multi-vitamin regimen. As a standalone supplement, 500 mg to 2 grams per day is a good starting dose for general cognitive improvement and stress relief.

There are several different forms of this nutrient sold in supplements. Myo-inositol is a particularly popular one, but D-Chiro-Inositol can also be used.

To super-charge Inositol benefits, many people pair it with a Choline supplement like Alpha GPC . Inositol has a well-known synergistic effect when combined with choline, and the neurotransmitter for which Choline is the pre-cursor, Acetylcholine.

The resulting combination provides powerful cognitive enhancement, including better memory, sharper thoughts, heightened concentration and mental acuity, and an overall softening of mood no matter what stress triggers appear.

Users not only can improve mental performance and achieve freedom from anxiety, they can actually foster healthy neural structures and enhanced overall brain longevity. These effects are the greatest benefits of Inositol vitamin B8 – adding up to a calm, focused mind.

Rate This Article

(17 votes, average: 3.47 out of 5, rated)