Most people have never heard of an inositol supplement before, and wouldn't know what to do with one if they had. The inositol supplement is perhaps more familiar with its previous name: vitamin B8. It is no longer known as a B vitamin because it is made in the body and a deficiency won't result in a disease. But even with the moniker of vitamin B8, most of us still have a fuzzy grasp, at best, of what use an inositol supplement might be. We'll try to clear up some of this in the words to follow.
What is an Inositol Supplement?
Inositol or vitamin B8 is found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. While the body creates inositol, whether or not additional supplementation is needed to support the body is still up for debate.
If you are concerned about your dieting habits, inositol supplements may be an ideal choice. Plus they usually come in one of two convenient forms: powder and pills/capsules. These supplements contain inositol from natural food sources or other sources. There are those who call into question the bio-availability of synthesized inositol, so natural food sources are considered preferable.
What Are the Potential Benefits of Inositol?
When understanding the role of inositol in the body, it is perhaps more helpful to describe what happens to the body without it than to describe what happens to the body with an adequate supply. In general, the body and mind deprived of inositol appear to go a bit haywire.
It is well understood that chemical deficiencies can cause physical and mental illnesses. In the case of inositol, these appear to be quite pronounced.
- People low in inositol are potentially more likely to have greater trouble managing behavior and decision making than someone who does not receive enough of it through diet or supplementations.
- People low in inositol may potentially find it difficult to maintain a sense of wellbeing, causing them to seek pharmaceutical aid or counseling. When instead, getting more inositol through diet might help more than anything else.
- Women of child-bearing age who are low in inositol may potentially have unwanted issues related to fertility and pregnancy. Supplementation of inositol appears to have potential benefits for desirable reproductive outcomes.
- There is potential that inositol positively impacts the body's able to metabolize sugars, which may also be of particular benefit to women of childbearing age.
