INOSITOL

[liveonearth]

Siebert says give as tx for anxiety

GENERAL
sometimes referred to as Vitamin B8
water soluble fatty lipid
required by the body for the formation of healthy cells
not essential, can be made in body from glucose
lowers pain threshhold
helpful for edema in treatment of scald burns
relieves diabetic neuropathy
pts w/ clinical depression usu have decr inositol in CSF
preliminary results on high dose inositol supps promising for:
bulimia, panic disorder, OCD, agoraphobia, and unipolar and bipolar depression

WHERE IT'S FOUND
present in greater concentration in CNS incl retina
also in bone marrow and intestinal cells
high concentration in mother’s milk-->??link to the immune system

FOOD SOURCES
Myo-inositol
naturally present in foods
esp fruits, beans, grains, and nuts

MECHANISMS/EFFECTS
second messenger-->calcium release in cells
mediator of calcium mobilization in the endoplasmic reticulum
transmission of messages between neural cells
transport of fats within cells
CNS: help transmit messages along neural pathways
Insulin signal transduction
Cytoskeleton assembly
Nerve guidance (Epsin)
Intracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentration control
Cell membrane potential maintenance
Serotonin activity modulation
Breakdown of fats and reducing blood cholesterol
Gene expression


USED TO TREAT
bulimia
OCD
depression (mild-mod)
bipolar mood disorder
panic disorder
Alzheimer's disease
pain conditions including diabetic neuropathies
may alleviate lithium-induced adverse reactions
helpful for all psych conditions that respond to SSRIs
insomnia (anecdotal support only)
bipolar (multiple studies confirm benefit with daily dosing)

one study linked higher levels of inositol in neonates with a decreased risk of retinopathy
may reduce compulsions to overeat in those suffering form binge eating disorders and bulimia

SIDE EFFECTS
none reported
don't use in preg

GENERAL
may take multivitamin supplement that contains inositol
recommended as a treatment for anxiety, depression, bipolar mood disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and panic disorders
inositol may be useful in treating other mood disorders and neuro-psychological disorders.

PHYTIC ACID
phytic acid in plants = inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6)
aka phytate when in salt form
principal storage form of phosphorus in many plant tissues, esp bran and seeds
Inositol penta- (IP5), tetra- (IP4), and triphosphate (IP3) are also called "phytates."

FOR OCD
single double-blind study on 13 patients
Myo-inositol sig reduces OCD sx
effectiveness equal to SSRIs
virtually without side-effects

FOR PANIC ATTACKS
double-blind, controlled trial
myo-inositol superior to fluvoxamine for decreasing # of panic attacks
fewer side effects

FOR DEPRESSION
double-blind, placebo-controlled study of depressed
high dose of inositol (12 grams daily)-->sig improvement of sx
no changes noted in liver, kidney, or hematological function

HOW LITHIUM WORKS
lithium fx primarily by decreasing myo-inositol concentrations in bipolar patients
lithium tx may further inhibit the enzyme inositol monophosphatase
-->incr intracellular inositol triphosphate
incr that effect by giving: inositol triphosphate reuptake inhibitor

FOR PCOS
D-chiro-inositol (DCI)
two double-blind studies
good tx for hallmarks of PCOS: IR, hyperandrogenism, oligo-amenorrhea
looked at this dt observed defects in DCI metabolism in PCOS and the implication of DCI in insulin signal transduction

FOR HYPONATREMIA
animal studies suggest
inositol reduces the severity of the osmotic demyelination syndrome
if given prior to rapid correction of chronic hyponatraemia

CANCER
in vitro experiments, animal studies, and limited clinical experiences
inositol mb used vs cancer
esp combo with phytic acid

HAIR
strengthens hair
available orally and is an ingredient in some shampoo formulas

ADULTERANT
Inositol
commonly used as an adulterant (or cutting agent) in many illegal drugs
cocaine, methamphetamine, and sometimes heroin

SOURCES
http://www.nutritionalsupplementscenter.com/info/HealthSupplement/inositol.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inositol

Comments

Cool!

[newedition.livejournal.com]

I've been taking inositol for over two years for OCD. I take a dose that should be clinically insignificant, but it seems to have helped a lot (admittedly I am highly suggestible and cannot deny the placebo effect). In high school I was "treated" with SSRIs and felt like a zombie. Things went away on their own later in high school and throughout college, but I started inositol during grad school when mental symptoms increased again. I've been searching around for long-term effects but haven't found anything. If you come across any information pertaining to long-term effects, please share your knowledge. :-)

Re: Cool!

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

I'll be returning to this post to update with any new stuff I find. Glad to hear you think it helped you. It may be what has made me feel better too. I started taking it about the time that I started feeling un-depressed. But who knows? We are so complicated. =-]

[lynnivere.livejournal.com]

I've heard of people randomly passing out Inositol & B6 to street/homeless folks. Apparently they are both effective in relieving stress related to emotional & chemical stressors, as well as making it possible for people to feel safe to touch & be touched physically.

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

Interesting! I hadn't heard the touch part. Is this something spoken of among massage therapists or ???

[lynnivere.livejournal.com]

I've heard this through friends who are trained in Nutrition. Also, I've read a great deal about Inositol & B Vitamins from Adelle Davis in "Let's Eat Right to Keep Fit" & "Let's Get Well."

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks!