| In common with choline, inositol is often regarded as a | | | | problems, hair loss, irritability, mood swings, and skin |
| member of the B-complex of vitamins, although this is | | | | eruptions. |
| not strictly accurate. Both choline and inositol, however, | | | | Apart from lecithin, which is commonly granulated from |
| work in similar fashion to the B vitamins. Inositol is vital | | | | soya beans, good food sources of inositol are |
| for the health of cell membranes and for the | | | | wholegrains, wheatgerm,. meat, citrus fruits, nuts, rice |
| transmission of energy and nutrients between cells. | | | | and legumes (ie peas and beans). Moreover, the body |
| There is also evidence that abundant supplies of | | | | is able to manufacture a certain amount of inositol |
| inositol may enhance the action of vitamin E, one of | | | | from the phytic acid released by the plant and other |
| the body's most important fat-soluble anti-oxidants. | | | | dietary fibres consumed in food. So it would seem that |
| Inositol therefore not only reduces blood cholesterol but | | | | a well-balanced, healthy diet, containing a selection of |
| also helps prevent the oxidation of the low density | | | | foods from the major groups, should provide at least |
| lipids (LDL), or "bad cholesterol", which is a principal | | | | an adequate supply of inositol; and indeed there is |
| precursor of potentially lethal hardening of the arteries | | | | evidence that most individuals in Western societies can |
| (atherosclerosis). | | | | obtain around 1,000 mg from their normal daily diet. |
| And it's not just in the reduction of potentially harmful | | | | The problem, however, is that a significant proportion |
| blood fats that inositol has a role to play. Taken | | | | of the inositol obtained from ordinary dietary sources is |
| together with choline, in the form of lecithin, inositol | | | | often rather poorly absorbed. And in common with the |
| stimulates the metabolic rate and thereby acts as a | | | | B-complex vitamins the nutrient is easily lost from the |
| powerful fat-burner for many people whose excess | | | | body; the consumption of excessive quantities of |
| weight is principally due to a slower than normal | | | | caffeine being a very common culprit in flushing it |
| metabolism. | | | | away. |
| But for many nutritional therapists the most important | | | | Practitioners therefore commonly recommend |
| functions of inositol lie in the areas of mental health and | | | | supplementation with inositol, a practice which is |
| brain function. The nutrient is widely used by | | | | regarded as very safe. The US Food and Nutrition |
| practitioners to tackle problems with the nervous | | | | Board has prescribed neither a Recommended Dietary |
| system, obsessive compulsive disorder, agorophobia, | | | | Allowance (RDA) nor an upper safe limit, but therapists |
| and anxiety and panic attacks; and there is also some | | | | normally suggest beginning with a dose of 500 mg to |
| preliminary, albeit inconclusive, evidence that | | | | check individual tolerance and requirements. This can |
| supplementation with inositol may help maintain | | | | be steadily increased to 1,500 mg or more for optimum |
| cognitive function in sufferers from Alzheimer's | | | | general well-being and many people find granular |
| disease. | | | | lecithin, which also provides the benefits of choline, to |
| Since the 1970s, doses of 1,000 mg a day of inositol | | | | be a pleasant and convenient way of obtaining this |
| have also been used by practitioners in the relief and | | | | level of intake; given that a single teaspoonful will |
| treatment of diabetic neuropathy, the nerve damage | | | | commonly provide around 100 mg of inositol. But far |
| that is one of the most painful and debilitating | | | | higher doses of up to several grams a day may be |
| consequences of this disease. | | | | prescribed for some of the specific conditions |
| Research also suggests that high doses of 6 - 12 g of | | | | described above. |
| inositol, taken over a period of several weeks, may | | | | Like all other major nutrients, inositol functions best |
| help relieve the symptoms of depression; evidence | | | | when all the body's necessary nutrients are |
| which is borne out by the observation that the blood | | | | adequately supplied. But in the case of inositol it is |
| and brain levels of inositol in sufferers from this | | | | particularly important to ensure a good intake of |
| condition are often much lower than normal. | | | | vitamin C and all the B-complex vitamins; the action of |
| Other deficiency symptoms, although it is hard to | | | | vitamin C being vital in sparing and conserving the |
| isolate a lack of inositol as their only cause, may include | | | | body's blood levels of inositol. |
| cardio-vascular disease and high cholesterol, digestive | | | | |