Inositol Benefits

There are many claimed inositol benefits but very little scientific evidence to support these claims. Inositol supplements are often claimed to be useful for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder, psoriasis, insomnia, and numerous other conditions. Children should not be given inositol; benefits are likely to be outweighed by the potential risks, as children are more susceptible to the toxicities of dietary supplements.

 

Benefits of Inositol: An Overview

Inositol is a naturally occurring molecule used as a structural component in numerous other molecules found throughout the human body. Although the body can make its own inositol (and many foods contain inositol), inositol is also available in supplement form. Inositol supplements are sometimes claimed to be beneficial for the following conditions:
 
There is some evidence that inositol may be beneficial for some of these uses, although many reported inositol uses have absolutely no scientific evidence to suggest any benefit.
 
(Click Does Inositol Work? for more information.)
 

How Does Inositol Work?

Inositol is a molecule that is an important structural component of cell membranes and molecules that serve as messengers within the body. It is not known how inositol might work for various conditions. It is possible that certain medical conditions may be associated with lower than normal levels of inositol, and inositol supplements could help boost levels in the body.
 
(Inositol Benefits Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;