Myo-Inositol: Benefits and Uses

Myo-inositol is a naturally occurring compound that belongs to the vitamin B family. It is involved in various cellular functions and is being studied for its potential role in improving reproductive health and mental well-being.
Category
Supplement
Where to get
Sold as a dietary supplement in health food stores and online.
Prepared by Nick Harper, reviewed by Dr. David James Simpson

myo-inositol FAQ


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What is a myo inositol?

Keywords: myo-inositol, phospholipid, cyclitol, phytic acid, lipodystrophy, D-chiro-inositol Inositols are polyols having six-carbon ring structure where each carbon is hydroxylated. A number of these sugar-alcohol isomers are biologically active, of which myo -inositol (MI) is the most common ( Majumdar et al., 1997 ).

What is inositol & how does it work?

Inositol is a form of sugar found in your body, in some foods and as a supplement. Your body needs inositol for the development and growth of cells. But research suggests that inositol may have many potential health benefits. People use it for metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), among other health conditions. What is inositol?

Where does inositol come from?

Inositol, sometimes referred to as vitamin B8, naturally occurs in foods such as fruits, beans, grains and nuts ( 1 ). Your body can also produce inositol from the carbohydrates you eat. However, research suggests that additional inositol in the form of supplements may have numerous health benefits.

How do we get myo-inositol?

We get myo-inositol in the diet either as inositol-containing phospholipids or phytic acid—which is inositol hexaphosphate (IP6). Bacterial phytases and phosphatases are primarily responsible for digesting dietary IP6 in the body and for releasing myo-inositol and phosphate.

myo-inositol References

If you want to know more about myo-inositol, consider exploring links below:

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