15 replies to this topic

[Ghostrider]

My local health store (GNC) sells this supplement. Has anyone tried Inositol? Any positive effects? It is suppose to improve signal transduction between cells, including nerve impulses.

[meatwad]

Vitamin B3 comes in two basic forms—niacin (also called nicotinic acid) and niacinamide (also called nicotinamide). A variation on niacin, called inositol hexaniacinate, is also available in supplements. Since it has not been linked with any of the usual niacin toxicity in scientific research, some doctors recommend inositol hexaniacinate for people who need large amounts of niacin.

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Niacin is the greatest vitamin on the planet. Partially converts to NAD+ / NADH in the brain and only costs a few cents.

[arcticjoe]

Inositol when used in high doses (18g+) by itself is suposed to be very effective at controling OCD and mild depression. It also can improve serotonin receptor sensitivity and is generally good for the whole body. I've tried it but it didnt work as well for me, other people have used and love it though.

[xanadu]

I tried it for a few weeks at about 12 gm per day and it didn't seem to do anything. Couldn't even get a decent placebo effect. :D

[meatwad]

take 1 gram of niacin and tell me you don't feel even a 'placebo' effect.

I don't feel there is any need to buy inositol when you can buy a 500 x 500mg
niacin capsules for the same price as 30 grams of inositol.

[arcticjoe]

Niacin is not the same thing as inositol. inositol hexaniacinate is a slower release niacin formula designed to avoid flushing you get from pure niacin. Also inositol aint all that expencive, I got 5lbs of the stuff for £50, though I should probably sell it cause I dont take it / need it.

[carnosine]

I tried 20 Grams at once and felt pretty good. Didn't taste too bad either.

[Sillewater]

Inositol might be bad for autophagy:

J Cell Biol. 2005 Sep 26;170(7):1101-11.
Lithium induces autophagy by inhibiting inositol monophosphatase.
Sarkar S, Floto RA, Berger Z, Imarisio S, Cordenier A, Pasco M, Cook LJ, Rubinsztein DC.

Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2XY, England, UK.
Abstract
Macroautophagy is a key pathway for the clearance of aggregate-prone cytosolic proteins. Currently, the only suitable pharmacologic strategy for up-regulating autophagy in mammalian cells is to use rapamycin, which inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a negative regulator of autophagy. Here we describe a novel mTOR-independent pathway that regulates autophagy. We show that lithium induces autophagy, and thereby, enhances the clearance of autophagy substrates, like mutant huntingtin and alpha-synucleins. This effect is not mediated by glycogen synthase kinase 3beta inhibition. The autophagy-enhancing properties of lithium were mediated by inhibition of inositol monophosphatase and led to free inositol depletion. This, in turn, decreased myo-inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) levels. Our data suggest that the autophagy effect is mediated at the level of (or downstream of) lowered IP3, because it was abrogated by pharmacologic treatments that increased IP3. This novel pharmacologic strategy for autophagy induction is independent of mTOR, and may help treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, like Huntington's disease, where the toxic protein is an autophagy substrate.

PMID: 16186256 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]PMCID: PMC2171537

Nature. 2002 May 16;417(6886):292-5.
A common mechanism of action for three mood-stabilizing drugs.
Williams RS, Cheng L, Mudge AW, Harwood AJ.

Intracellular Signalling Group, MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
Abstract
Lithium, carbamazepine and valproic acid are effective mood-stabilizing treatments for bipolar affective disorder. The molecular mechanisms underlying the actions of these drugs and the illness itself are unknown. Berridge and colleagues suggested that inositol depletion may be the way that lithium works in bipolar affective disorder, but others have suggested that glycogen synthase kinase (GSK3) may be the relevant target. The action of valproic acid has been linked to both inositol depletion and to inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC). We show here that all three drugs inhibit the collapse of sensory neuron growth cones and increase growth cone area. These effects do not depend on GSK3 or HDAC inhibition. Inositol, however, reverses the effects of the drugs on growth cones, thus implicating inositol depletion in their action. Moreover, the development of Dictyostelium is sensitive to lithium and to valproic acid, but resistance to both is conferred by deletion of the gene that codes for prolyl oligopeptidase, which also regulates inositol metabolism. Inhibitors of prolyl oligopeptidase reverse the effects of all three drugs on sensory neuron growth cone area and collapse. These results suggest a molecular basis for both bipolar affective disorder and its treatment.

PMID: 12015604 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[KimberCT]

I also tried 12+ gram doses daily of inositol in an attempt to treat anxiety. I gave up after a month with no improvement.

I was, however, already on a SSRI. Perhaps it only works for folks who aren't already manipulating the serotonin system.

[Yearningforyears]

15 grams (maybe it was more) daily made me quite a bit hypomanic (racing thoughts... not very pleasant).
Lower doses did seem to decrease anxiety and improve mood.
I have been off it for some time, but re-started yesterday.
Definitely psychoactive.

[bacopa]

I've had it with supplements almost, they cause all kinds of weird side effects for me.

But I take Inositol IP6, and that could be good for cancer prevention.

But it brings my mood down the regular form that is, at high doses.

[FunkOdyssey]

Inositol worsens ADD, watch out for that.

[FocusPocus]

Inositol worsens ADD, watch out for that.

Sorry for bumping this post, but @ funkodyssey, are you sure about this?

Damn, i just bought it as an addon to help me study, and i suffer from bipolar hypomania which is almost like Adhd (atleast for me)

Furthermore there are a lot of reviews about the choline-inositol combination helping a lot of people to study better.

was planning to take around 250 mg daily. (not the 18g used to treat psychiatric disorders)

Should i keep it aside?

Edit: I just found this link. It says inositol is used as treatment for ADHD

http://www.braintrop...e-and-inositol/

Edited by FocusPocus, 31 August 2013 - 01:20 PM.

[xeon]

Bump

[ReachMyPotential]

Inositol worsens ADD, watch out for that.

I know this is a somewhat older thread, but I'm curious to know what the mechanism of action is that causes a worsening of ADD. If you're still around Funk Odyssey, I'd love to know. I've been experimenting with Inositol at about 12g/day for the past several weeks and if anything, I don't notice much of anything at all ... but I do have issues with focus sometimes and who knows, maybe this is actually doing more harm than good for me (and others).

[penisbreath]

Probably in the same way SSRIs worsen ADD .. I imagine it would be good for those whose focus is affected by anxiety, but might decrease overall attention span.