Inositol Capsules

Product Description

Inositol is a pseudovitamin found in cell membranes.  It is necessary for cellular signaling and the growth of human cells (1, 2).

Inositol Benefits

• Supports mood (ref)*
• Promotes healthy triglyceride levels (ref)*
• Maintains osmotic balance in cells, notably in the central nervous system (ref)*

Inositol Mode of Action

Inositol once belonged to the Vitamin B-complex but it is now considered a pseudovitamin because it is synthesized in the human body.  It is a sugar alcohol that is also present in dietary sources such as corn, cereal, citrus fruits, legumes, and meats (2).

A typical dietary intake provides 1 g/day of Inositiol. It is present in the highest concentration in the central nervous system tissues (CNS) and can be synthesized directly by the CNS. The kidneys can synthesize up to 4 g/day.  Therapeutic doses of 6 g/day can increase cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of insotiol by 70% (3).

Inositol includes 9 different steroisomers:  Myo-inositol, Epi-inositol, Allo-inositol, Cis-inositol, Muco-inositol, Neo-inositol, Scyllo-inositol, L-Chiro-inositol, and D-Chiro-inositol. The most common form in the body is myo-inositol which is over 90% of cellular inositol, and scyllo-inositiol is the next most abundant steroisomer.  Most supplements are formed from myo-inositol (1).

Myo-inositol is involved in the formation of cell membranes and a precursor for the phosophatidylinositol cycle.  Cellular messengers such as diacylgycerol (which regulates some of the protein kinase C functions), inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (which modifies calcium levels within the cells), and phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-biphosphate (which is important for signal transduction) all require Myo-inositol as a precursor (4).

Myo-inositol’s concentration in the central nervous system (CNS) is very high and the tissues in the CNS can synthesize it as well.  Myo-inositol functions as an osmolyte which can regulate the tonicity of cell fluid volume.  Inadequate levels of myo-inositol have been tied to imbalances in brain chemistry affecting mood and genetic pathologies (3).

Inositiol Dosage

Pure Nootropics’ Inositol Capsules provide 500 mg per 1 capsule.  Suggested use for adults is 1 capsule by mouth daily, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner.

Inositol Side Effects and Toxicity

Inositol is generally well tolerated.  Side effects may include diarrhea, nausea, headache, fatigue and dizziness.  Rarely, side effects may include insomica, tics, allergy symptoms, thirst, and agitation.  Toxicity information is insufficient at this time (2).

If you are taking any medications, please consult with your healthcare practitioner before beginning supplementation with Inositol (2).

If you are diabetic, or are taking anti-diabetes medications, inositol may lower blood glucose levels and the combination may lower blood sugar too low and cause hypoglycemia.  Please consult with your healthcare practitioner before beginning supplementation with Inositol.  Anti-diabetes medications may include insulin, Amaryl (glimepiride), DiaBeta/Glynase PresTab/Micronase (glyburide), Actos (pioglitazone), Avandia (rosiglitazone), Diabinese (chlorpropamide), Glucotrol (glipizide), Orinase (tolbutamide) and others (2).

Herbs and supplements that may also have hypoglycemic affects include agaricus mushroom, bitter melon, banaba, cowhage, fenugreek, devil’s claw, ginger, goat’s rue, glucomannan, guar gum, kudzu, Panax and Siberian ginsengs, willow bark, and others (2).

For further information, please see our References Tab above.