Inositol, is it really that magical?

This is the 4774th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

Recently I heard someone talking about inositol. Is it good? It is said to be a "miracle drug" that can treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid nodules and even prevent hair loss. It is also said to improve metabolism and lower blood lipids. Is it really that powerful?

Inositol was first discovered in animal muscles, hence the name: inositol. It is a water-soluble vitamin, but not a true vitamin, because the human body can synthesize inositol from glucose; it is an essential nutrient for cell growth and survival, and is one of the substances that make up the phospholipid bilayer (cell membrane scaffold). It is involved in many physiological processes, including glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, reproduction and fertility, and egg cell maturation [1].

Effects of Inositol

1. Optimize Fertility

Inositol can help improve fertility by inducing ovulation in women; supplementation with inositol can also improve the antioxidant quality of male sperm, assist sperm motility, as well as the capacitation and acrosome reaction required for sperm and oocyte fusion, thereby increasing pregnancy rates.

2. Helps improve depression and anxiety

Inositol helps improve signaling between neurons, promotes better cognitive function, and can help treat postpartum depression, menopausal anxiety, and more.

3. Improve insulin resistance

Inositol, as an insulin sensitizer, is a precursor of inositol phosphate glycan (IPG). It exerts an insulin-like effect through the IPG-mediated insulin signaling pathway and can improve the level of insulin resistance.

4. Alleviates Symptoms of PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age, often associated with abnormal increase in androgen and abnormal secretion of gonadotropin, and with symptoms such as irregular menstruation, hirsutism, abnormal ovulation, and hair loss. Inositol helps improve metabolic indicators, increase sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and reduce excess androgen.

How to Supplement Inositol

1. Natural food supplement . Each kidney of a healthy human body produces about 2g of inositol every day, and the liver and brain also synthesize trace amounts of inositol. Under normal and balanced diet conditions, sufficient inositol can generally be obtained from natural foods. Common food sources include whole grains: corn, wheat germ, whole wheat bread, oats, brown rice, sweet potatoes; animal offal: animal liver, cow brain, cow heart; fruits: oranges, peaches, grapefruits, raisins, watermelons, cantaloupes; vegetables: cabbage, kale, peas, tomatoes.

2. Supplements . There is no recommended dose for inositol, and the dosage used ranges from 4g/d to 18g/d. The content and specific type of inositol supplement may depend on your health status and current medication. It is generally safe, but it still needs to be supplemented under the guidance of a professional doctor.

3. People who are used to consuming caffeine and alcohol on a daily basis need to pay attention to the intake of inositol and can choose more foods with high inositol content in their daily diet.

4. People with diabetes, kidney disease and other diseases should use inositol supplements under the guidance of doctors or other professionals when necessary.

5. The recommended dosage for most inositol supplements on the market is generally 2 grams twice a day.

References:

[1] Li Yangyang, Hou Lihui, Li Yan, et al. Research progress on inositol and insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome [J]. China Medical Herald, 2021, 18(12): 37-40.

Author: Shanghai Tongji Hospital

Luo Bin