• Description
• Functions
• Dietary sources
• Required Intakes
• Cautions

Description

Inositol is needed for health at cellular level and a fair concentration is found in the lens of the human eye as well as the heart. 

Functions

Inositol plays an important part in the health of cell membranes especially the specialized cells in the brain, bone marrow, eyes and intestines. The function of the cell membranes is to regulate the contents of the cells, which makes effective functioning possible. Inositol is said to promote healthy hair, hair growth, and helps in controlling estrogen levels and may assist in preventing breast lumps.It may also be of benefit in reducing blood cholesterol levels. If your intake is not sufficient, you may experience symptoms such as eczema, hair loss, constipation, and abnormalities of the eyes and raised cholesterol.

Body Components and Functions

• Hair -- growth
• Brain -- gives a calming effect
• Organ muscles-- reduces cholesterol levels, prevents hardening of arteries, formation of lecithin, metabolism of fat and cholesterol
• Liver -- removes fats
• Skin -- prevents eczema

Therapeutic Uses:

• eczema
• obesity
• schizophrenia
• baldness
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• poor circulation

Dietary sources

Inositol is available from both plant and animal sources. The plant form in which inositol is available is phytic acid, which can bind with minerals and so affect their absorption negatively. 

The body is also able to manufacture this factor. Inositol is available from wheat germ, brewers yeast. bananas, liver, brown rice, oat flakes, nuts, unrefined molasses, raisins and vegetables.

Required Intakes

Supplementation is usually 1000 mg per day.

Cautions

No toxic effects known, but diarrhea has been noted with the intake of very high dosage of inositol.

Choline should be taken in the same amount as inositol and the best is to take the entire B group vitamins with it, Vitamin E, vitamin C as well as folic acid and linoleic acid is thought to increase the functioning of inositol. Coffee kills this nutrient