Inositol (or myo-inositol) is a B-vitamin-like molecule often used to help regulate blood sugar, manage polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and manage mood disorders such as anxiety. Inositol is a precursor to phosphatidylinositol, which is central to the phosphoinositide cycle. This cycle is essential to multiple brain signaling systems, delivering messages from a variety of hormones and neurotransmitters (brain messenger-molecules) from receptors on the nerve cell membrane to the inside of the cell. Essentially, inositol helps to improve the sensitivity of various receptors, which in turn helps to balance mood and blood sugar in cases of PCOS.

Research suggests that high doses of inositol can address the symptoms of behavioural and compulsive disorders, particularly those related to mood imbalances and worrying. Signaling systems dependent on the phosphoinositide system include neurotransmitters, which are key targets for antidepressant drugs. Recent research also supports a role for lower doses of inositol in cellular defense and normal cell growth and differentiation, especially in combination with I-P-6 (inositol hexaphosphate or phytate). Those suffering with poor regulation of blood sugar, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), or mood disorders such as anxiety may benefit from Inositol. It is also useful for people concerned with healthy cellular growth and differentiation.

AOR Advantage

It is a B-vitamin that has more recently been applauded for its ability to support a healthy mood balance and normal cellular growth and differentiation. AOR offers inositol in both capsule and powder form because different doses of inositol have varying therapeutic effects. For people bound by mood disorders, inositol powder is a new orthomolecular key to the shackles that bind their minds.

However exciting the results of the studies on high-dose inositol may be, inositol powder is not a panacea for psychic ills. Inositol is of no benefit in premenstrual dysphoric disorder, anergic schizophrenics, Alzheimer’s disease victims, or children with autism; and in fact, high-dose inositol made children with attention deficit disorder worse. It appears that inositol is effective nutritional support for people with disorders that usually respond to SSRI drugs, and not to those that don’t. That also probably explains why trials have found that adding inositol supplementation to existing SSRI usage does not yield further improvements in people with depression, partially-responsive OCD, or depression that is immune to the effects of the SSRIs themselves.