Inositol is a cyclitol (also known as a sugar alcohol), still sometimes referred to as vitamin B8, essential for the proper functioning of several bodily systems. Its properties have primarily attracted the attention of researchers dealing with obesity (it increases the effectiveness of insulin) and low fertility (it regulates the ovulatory cycle in PCOS in women, and has therapeutic potential for low spermatozoa in men). However, in the course of discovering the potential of this substance, it turned out that inositol can also positively affect mental health.
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How does inositol work in the nervous system?
Research into the properties of inositol in the nervous system began with the observation of its fluctuating levels in patients with already developed diseases – lower levels of this substance were recorded, among others, in the brains of people with progressive Alzheimer’s disease, but also with bipolar affective disorder.
Why might a lower amount of inositol be associated with mental disorders? Primarily due to inositol’s confirmed property, which is its role in the creation of neurotransmitters and the stimulation of cellular response. This cyclitol sensitizes cells to the action of, among other things, serotonin, and probably also participates in its synthesis from tryptophan. Inositol can also support the creation of signal transmission pathways in the nervous system and the release of secondary messengers. Simply put: it allows body cells to receive signals from the brain and react to them by triggering an appropriate response. These properties are attributed to its effect on patients suffering from diseases such as:
- depression,
- eating disorders like bulimia nervosa,
- anxiety and panic states,
- circadian rhythm disorders.
Inositol in anxiety disorders and depression
Currently, inositol is being investigated for its effectiveness as an adjunctive treatment in the therapy of anxiety disorders and depression. In the case of the former, its effectiveness is demonstrated in studies in the context of improving patients’ quality of life – individuals taking inositol recorded a significant reduction in the number of panic attacks compared to the placebo group, another study showed comparable efficacy in alleviating symptoms to fluvoxamine, a substance indicated for pharmacological treatment of anxiety disorders. At the same time, inositol showed fewer side effects – it did not cause feelings of fatigue or nausea.
In the case of depression, research results are somewhat less clear-cut – in theory, inositol, which participates in serotonin synthesis, should have a significant impact on improving depressive symptoms. However, studies have shown only slight changes compared to the placebo group.
Interestingly, in studies where the effect of inositol was examined on depressive symptoms related to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), inositol, in turn, showed a significant improvement in patients’ well-being compared to the placebo group. For this reason, the scientific consensus is currently quite cautious: inositol can be used as an auxiliary supplementation in the fight against symptoms of depression, but it in no way replaces the role of antidepressants in the current pharmacological method of treating these disorders.
In the context of eating disorders, inositol has shown effectiveness in improving outcomes for patients with bulimic disorders and night eating syndrome. Here, probably in addition to its role in controlling the nervous system, its ability to sensitize tissues to insulin and improve glucose absorption also influenced its effectiveness. This meant that the eating disorder was treated from two sides. The body assimilated nutrients better, leading to a quicker cessation of binge eating, and at the same time, inositol stimulated the response to serotonin and other neurotransmitters. In this way, there was no sudden increase in negative emotions related to eating, reducing the need to get rid of food from the body.
The relationship between inositol, sleep, and regeneration
In studies on the effect of inositol on depression, markers developed to determine the progress of this disease were used – inositol did not significantly improve them. However, people taking this cyclitol indicated an improvement in indirect symptoms, which may or may not appear in the case of depression. This primarily concerned feelings of fatigue, increased irritability, and circadian cycle disorders (insomnia, problems falling asleep, etc.). Inositol probably only improved the latter factor – but proper sleep is crucial for body regeneration and encoding new information in the brain. Therefore, sleep disorders are regularly associated with increased irritability and greater fatigue – the body does not have time for proper regeneration. Inositol supports the creation of new transmission pathways and sensitizes cells to receive signals from the brain.
Bibliography:
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- D.R.Chhetri, Myo-Inositol and Its Derivatives: Their Emerging Role in the Treatment of Human Diseases, Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2019
- C.Concerto, C.Chiarenza, A.Di Francesco i inni, Neurobiology and Applications of Inositol in Psychiatry: A Narrative Review, Current Issues In Molecular Biology, 2023
- J.Benjamin, J.Levine, M.Fux i in. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of inositol treatment for panic disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, nr 152/1995.
- A.Palatnik, K.Frolov, M.Fux i in., Double-blind, controlled, crossover trial of inositol versus fluvoxamine for the treatment of panic disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, nr 21/2001.
- D.Gelber, J.Levine, R.H.Belmaker, Effect of inositol on bulimia nervosa and binge eating. International Journal of Eating Disorders, nr 29/2001.