INOSITOL (ALSO KNOWN AS MYO-INOSITOL)

Inositol in EnergyNeeds®

Inositol is added in order to provide a wide basis of nutrition, and based on its role in serotonin metabolism and potential efficacy in a variety of mental conditions. Side effects are unexpected.

The Details

What Is Inositol?

Myo-inositol is the biologically active form of inositol and is the form present in dietary supplements, usually simply under the name of “inositol”. Myo-inositol was once considered a member of the vitamin B complex (as vitamin B8); however, it was later found to be produced by humans, and thus is not a true vitamin.

What Does Inositol Do?

Inositol heightens the activity of serotonin in the brain, and thus has a vital role in mood and emotional balance. Inositol is also an important component of the structural lipid phosphatidylinositol, and helps with fat metabolism. Furthermore, inositol coupled to phosphate forms a number of secondary messengers in cells.

What Does a Inositol Deficiency Appear As?

Inositol is synthesized by human cells, and deficiency of this nutrient is unknown.

What About Inositol‘s Use in Disease?

Inositol is water-soluble and thus considered to be generally non-toxic. Side effects are rare at usual doses used in supplementation. For panic disorder a dose of 12 to 18 grams per day has been recommended, which is several hundreds of  times higher than the dosages in EnergyNeeds®.

What Are the Common and/or Important Side Effects of Inositol?

Inositol is water-soluble and thus considered to be generally non-toxic. Side effects are rare at usual doses used in supplementation. For panic disorder a dose of 12 to 18 grams per day has been recommended, which is over 100 times commonly used dosages in many supplements.

Is There Any Laboratory Testing for Inositol?

Testing is neither generally available nor of apparent clinical utility.