KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Inositol comes in nine forms, but myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol are the most common types in supplements.
  • It may help with PCOS, insulin resistance, and cholesterol control.
  • Some research suggests it can support mental health conditions such as panic disorder and depression.
  • Most people get about 1 gram of inositol a day from food, but supplements often use much higher doses.
Nut, lentils with orange

What if your body made something that you could also find in oranges bottled up as vitamin? That’s inositol. It sounds like a vitamin (sometimes called vitamin B8), acts like sugar, and is studied like a medicine. Confused yet? You’re not alone. Inositol doesn’t fit neatly into one category. It’s part nutrient and possibly part mood booster. 

What is Inositol?

Inositol is a type of sugar that your body makes naturally. You also get from foods such as beans, fruits, grains, and nuts. Even though it is sometimes called vitamin B8, it is not actually a vitamin. Inositol helps build cell membranes and may affect hormones and brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. This is perfect, because when it comes to vitamins, it’s “B great.”

Side jokes - many people take an inositol dietary supplement. This support health conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), metabolic syndrome, and even pregnancy-related problems like gestational diabetes. Some also use it for mood and mental health.

P/S: Do not confuse it with inositol nicotinate or IP-6, which are different compounds.

What are the Benefits of Inotisol?

1. Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors that increase the chance of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. These include high blood sugar, high blood pressure, belly fat, high triglycerides, and low levels of HDL cholesterol.

In a study on women with metabolic syndrome, those who took 2 grams of inositol twice a day saw their triglycerides fall by 34 percent and total cholesterol fall by 22 percent. Blood pressure and blood sugar levels also improved. This suggests that an inositol dietary supplement may play a role in controlling these risk factors, though larger studies are still needed.

SUMMARY

Inositol may help support healthy blood sugar, improve cholesterol levels, and promote better blood pressure. It can also play a role in overall heart and metabolic health.

2. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a hormone problem that can cause irregular periods, infertility, weight gain, acne, and excess hair growth.

A group of women with PCOS who took 4,000 mg of myo-inositol with folic acid every day for three months had results with better ovulation, lower blood pressure, and improved cholesterol. 

SUMMARY

PCOS is a hormone condition that can cause irregular periods, weight gain, acne, and trouble getting pregnant. Taking myo-inositol with folic acid may help improve ovulation, support healthy blood pressure, and balance cholesterol levels.

3. Gestational Diabetes (GDM) and Preterm Birth

Gestational diabetes is a rise in blood sugar that happens during pregnancy. It increases the risk of preterm birth, which means giving birth before 37 weeks.

In a clinical study, women at high risk for gestational diabetes who took 4,000 mg of myo-inositol with folic acid were less likely to develop gestational diabetes. While more studies are needed, this suggests that an inositol dietary supplement may be a safe option for pregnant women at risk, but always under medical guidance.

SUMMARY

Myo-inositol with folic acid may help lower the chance of developing gestational diabetes, but it should only be used with a doctor’s guidance.

4. Mental Health Conditions

Some people with depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have been found to have lower levels of inositol in the brain.

  • In one study, 20 people with panic disorder took either 18 grams of inositol daily or a common anxiety medication for one month. Those who took inositol had fewer weekly panic attacks compared with the medication group.
  • In another small trial, people with depression who took 12 grams of inositol per day for four weeks had improved symptoms. However, later studies did not confirm the same benefit, which means the results are still mixed.
  • A small study in children with bipolar disorder found that combining inositol with omega-3 fatty acids reduced symptoms of maniac and depression after 12 weeks.

These findings suggest that an inositol dietary supplement might support mental health for some people, but more research is needed before it can be recommended as a main treatment.

SUMMARY

Inositol may help reduce panic attacks, improve mood in depression, and support emotional balance in conditions like anxiety, OCD, and bipolar disorder. It shows promise for mental health, though more research is needed.

Conditions Where Inositol Dietary Supplement Does Not Seem to Help

Not all studies show benefits. Research suggests that inositol does not help with:

  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in premature babies
  • Diabetic nerve pain
  • Anxiety in general (outside of panic disorder)
  • Retinopathy of prematurity (an eye condition in infants)

In some cases, giving inositol through IV to infants was linked with harm. Because of this, inositol should only be used as an oral inositol dietary supplement, not through IV, and only under medical care.

Side Effects and Safety

For most adults, inositol is considered safe when taken by mouth for up to 10 weeks. Some people may experience nausea, gas, or diarrhea.

  • Pregnancy: Likely safe in doses up to 4,000 mg of myo-inositol daily when combined with folic acid.
  • Breastfeeding: Not enough information, so it is best to avoid.

Inositol is considered safe for most individuals, with only minor side effects reported at doses of up to 18 grams per day..

Nutrition Sources

Most diets provide about 1 gram of inositol per day, which comes from foods such as:

  • Citrus fruits
  • Beans and lentils
  • Nuts
  • Whole grains

For example, 100-gram serving of orange provides roughly 307 mg of myo-inositol, whereas a 100-gram serving of grapefruit contains about 199 mg. For this reason, many people turn to an inositol supplement to get therapeutic levels.

Final Thoughts

Inositol is a natural sugar that helps with cell structure, hormone balance, and brain signaling. As an inositol dietary supplement, it has shown promise in helping with PCOS, metabolic syndrome, and pregnancy-related conditions such as gestational diabetes. It may also have a role in mental health, but results are not yet consistent.

While inositol appears safe for most adults, it is not a cure-all. More research is needed to confirm its benefits across different conditions. If you are considering an inositol dietary supplement, talk with your healthcare provider first to make sure it is right for your situation.