Inositol – action, application, effect on health. Inositol and PCOS

Proven content

Inositol is a compound that can be synthesized by itself in the body, mainly in the brain and liver. The human body can be supported by the supply of inositol from the outside with the help of appropriate food and supplementation. Read about inositol and its properties.

Inositol – what is it?

Inositol is a pseudo-vitamin chemical formerly known as vitamin B8 and considered to be part of the B vitamins. However, when it was discovered that our body can produce its own inositol, it ceased to be considered a true vitamin.. Inositol is a sugar alcohol with six hydroxyl groups, and myo-inositol is what this sugar alcohol is converted to in the brain.

Some diseases cause the human body to produce too little of this compound, which is why supplementation is sometimes required. Given that inositol is found in a certain group of foods, you should add them to your diet. These include brown rice, citrus fruits, nuts, wheat germ, green leafy vegetables, cereals, soy flour and whole grain bread. Lecithin granules and other sources of lecithin are also excellent sources of inositol.

Inositol is present in high concentrations in the brain, where it works closely with various neurotransmitters and is therefore most often associated with nervous function. While this is the main health aspect of this chemical, there are many other impressive benefits to using Inositol.

The editorial board recommends: Rice pudding with strawberry mousse. A healthy and nutritious breakfast

Inositol and polycystic ovary syndrome

The best known and thoroughly researched benefit of inositol is its ability to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a very common syndrome that can affect up to 21 percent of women in a given population. Some reports indicate that as many as 72 percent of women with PCOS have experienced infertility, compared to about 16 percent of women without PCOS.

In diagnostics, the three main features of PCOS are hyperandrogenism, scanty periods, and polycystic ovaries. Hyperandrogenism is a condition that causes an excess of male hormones in a woman’s body. It manifests itself as acne, skin problems, hair loss on the scalp, increased body or facial hair (known as hirsutism).

Ultrasound polycystic ovary syndrome is characterized by the presence of numerous cysts in the ovaries (at least 20 follicles with a diameter of 2 to 9 mm) and an enlargement of the ovarian volume (the volume of the ovary is at least 10 cm3).

1. See also: Endocrine dysfunction of the ovaries

PCOS is also closely related to the metabolic syndrome – about twice as many women with PCOS have metabolic syndrome compared to women without PCOS (about half of women with PCOS are clinically obese). Women with PCOS are four times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and have a slightly higher risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol and / or high triglycerides), heart disease, and mood disorders.

There have been numerous studies on the effects of inositol on polycystic ovary syndrome. They show that inositol is able to restore spontaneous ovulation and improve fertility in women with PCOS, both when using myo-inositol alone (the most common method) and in combination with D-chiro-inositol.

It was also noted that the 40: 1 ratio of myo-inositol to D-chiro-inositol helped alleviate PCOS metabolic aberrations that typically include blood pressure, triglyceride, and cholesterol problems, as well as restoring ovulation.

D-chiro-inositol alone increases insulin activity in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, which may also be one of the ways this compound improves ovulation. This form is also associated with lowering cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure, and may be the form of this supplement most capable of reducing hyperandrogenism.

See: Triglycerides – how to lower their level in the body?

Inositol – mental disorders

Due to its interaction with the central nervous system and neurotransmitter pathways, inositol shows some efficacy in the treatment of mental disorders.

Inositol can be used in the case of:

1. depression
2. panic disorder,
3. obsessive-compulsive disorder,
4. premenstrual dysphoric disorders,
5. anxiety.

When treating patients with symptoms of depression, researchers found in one study that 6000 milligrams a day led to significant improvement in over 90 percent of participants. As a follow-up to this study, the researchers reported that people treated with inositol showed an improvement in mood in depression about three times greater than those treated with a placebo.

See: OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

Inositol – sources

Depending on the type of inositol you want to consume, there are several foods to consider. Inositol is most abundant in fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen / canned varieties have lost at least some of their inositol content.

Products that are the best source of inositol:

1. beans (preferably sprouted),
2. whole grains (preferably germinating),
3. oats and bran,
4. nuts,
5. pepper,
6. tomatoes,
7. potatoes,
8. asparagus,
9. green leafy vegetables (kale, spinach, etc.),
10. oranges,
11. peaches,
12. pears,
13. citrus fruits such as lime and lemon
14. bananas and other potassium-rich foods
15. coconut products such as coconut oil, coconut sugar and amino acids, coconut (a replacement for coconut-based soy sauce).

Keep in mind that animal products (meat and eggs) containing inositol should be eaten in organic varieties whenever possible, as the pesticides that these animals consume and the antibiotics or other medications that may be administered can cause more harm than useful.

You can also buy Inozytol 90g – YANGO dietary supplement available on Medonet Market at a promotional price.

See: Blueberries help reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease

Inositol – effect on health

One of the main functions of inositol is to help with cell communication. Your cells interact with each other through chemical signals – one cell releases a signaling molecule such as a hormone, and then another cell receives and interprets that chemical message.

Inositol helps cells interpret the chemical messages they receiveso that they can react appropriately – for example, helping cells to divide when they receive chemical signals that tell them to grow. Inositol signaling defects cause the breakdown of cellular communication, and these defects are associated with diseases such as cancer.

Due to its enormous contribution to the better operation of neurotransmitters, inositol turns out to be helpful in improving cognitive functions. There have been reports of a better thinking process and an active lifestyle after ingestion. This effect is partly due to the fact that inositol has mood-boosting properties.

When inositol is combined with choline, our body produces lecithin. Lecithin breaks down fats in the body and prevents fat from building up in the cell walls of the brain, heart, and arteries. The higher the lecithin levels in your body, the less fat is stored in your arteries, which ultimately lowers blood cholesterol.

The editorial board recommends: Total cholesterol, LDL and HDL. How to lower cholesterol?

Inositol – dosage

Inositol supplements are sold in the form of tablets and capsules. There is no recommended daily dosage of Inositol and there is no standardized dosage regimen.

Manufacturers on the product inserts present the following dosage:

1. metabolic syndrome: 2 grams twice a day,
2. PCOS: 2 grams twice a day,
3. lithium-related psoriasis: up to 6 grams once a day
4. anxiety and panic attacks: up to 12 grams per day.

Check opinions on Opineo.pl.

Inositol – side effects

Inositol is generally considered safe in adults. Side effects, if any, are usually mild and may include nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, and dizziness. Most side effects occur at doses greater than 12 g per day.

The metabolic effects of inositol may not be appropriate for everyone. Even in people with diabetes, long-term use or abuse of Inositol can lead to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

While there is research to suggest that inositol may be helpful in bipolar disorder, there is also concern that it may cause manic or hypomanic episodes.

There are also concerns that high doses of Inositol Hexaphosphate may reduce the body’s ability to absorb zinc, calcium, iron, and other essential minerals, resulting in a nutrient deficiency even if you eat a balanced diet.

As a dietary supplement, inositol products are not tested for safety and their effects on pregnant women, nursing mothers and babies have not been established. As such, it’s best to talk to your doctor before using Inositol.

Inositol – precautions

Inositol deficiency is rare and its toxicity is very unlikely. However, given that caffeine consumption largely reduces inositol, caution is advised with coffee heavy drinkers. Inositol is called a conditional vitamin because when the body is exposed to increased levels of stress, the body’s need for nutrients increases. Therefore, care should be taken to provide the body with a sufficient amount of this nutrient in stressful situations.

Inositol deficiency is usually signaled by symptoms such as skin rashes, elevated cholesterol levels, elevated homocysteine ​​levels, constipation, vision problems, hair loss, physical fatigue, eczema, tingling hands, sleepiness, confusion, increased risk of heart and lung disease, and other physical conditions. and mental symptoms. Excess can also lead, in rare cases, to symptoms such as hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, lethargy and confusion.

Adults experiencing extremely stressful periods characterized by episodes of depression or anxiety are especially recommended to start taking Inositol. However, given that the nature of these conditions (in terms of causality and treatment) is very complex, we do not recommend taking a dietary supplement without prior medical advice.

Also, people who regularly exceed 2 cups of coffee a day should also consider increasing their daily intake as inositol is flushed out of the body at a much faster rate.

Read also: The risk of heart disease can be written… on your forehead

Inositol – reviews

According to the opinions of people using preparations containing inositol, it improves both well-being and the ability to concentrate. Patients praise its mildly sedative and antidepressant properties. Inositol is believed to be gentle, it can slightly stimulate while maintaining its mood-boosting and anti-anxiety properties. It is successfully used by people complaining of anxiety and anxiety.