Inositol

    Written by:
    Thomas Solomon, Katherine Nguyen

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Gregory Lopez, Nick Milazzo
    Last Updated: August 14, 2023

    Inositol can improve insulin sensitivity and glycemic control, and may help manage polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and prevent gestational diabetes. The most commonly supplemented forms of inositol are myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol, but all forms are interchangeably referred to as inositol.

    36 references on this page
    5,645 participants in 38 trials and 8 meta-analyses

    Overview

    Dosage information

    Studies finding beneficial effects of inositol on gestational diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome typically administer myo-inositol in the range of 1–4 grams (1000–4000 milligrams) once daily.

    Examine Database: Inositol

    Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
    Depression
    Gestational Diabetes
    Metabolic Syndrome
    Panic Disorder
    Schizophrenia
    Alzheimer’s Disease
    Infertility
    Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
    Autism Spectrum Disorder
    High Cholesterol
    Obesity
    Premenstrual Syndrome
    Psoriasis
    Agoraphobia
    Binge Eating Disorder
    Bipolar Disorder
    Dyslipidemia
    Hirsutism
    Lung Cancer
    Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    The conditions below have no primary outcomes
    Menopause
    Cognitive Improvement
    Infant Health
    Overweight
    Premature Birth

    Frequently asked questions

    Update History

    Examine Database References

    1. Weight - M Nordio, E ProiettiThe combined therapy with myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol reduces the risk of metabolic disease in PCOS overweight patients compared to myo-inositol supplementation aloneEur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci.(2012 May)
    2. Weight - Gerli S, Mignosa M, Di Renzo GCEffects of inositol on ovarian function and metabolic factors in women with PCOS: a randomized double blind placebo-controlled trialEur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci.(2003 Nov-Dec)
    3. Weight - Alessandro D Genazzani, Alessia Prati, Susanna Santagni, Federica Ricchieri, Elisa Chierchia, Erica Rattighieri, Annalisa Campedelli, Tommaso Simoncini, Paolo G ArtiniDifferential insulin response to myo-inositol administration in obese polycystic ovary syndrome patientsGynecol Endocrinol.(2012 Dec)
    4. Weight - Donà G, Sabbadin C, Fiore C, Bragadin M, Giorgino FL, Ragazzi E, Clari G, Bordin L, Armanini DInositol administration reduces oxidative stress in erythrocytes of patients with polycystic ovary syndromeEur J Endocrinol.(2012 Apr)
    5. Ovulation - Iuorno MJ, Jakubowicz DJ, Baillargeon JP, Dillon P, Gunn RD, Allan G, Nestler JEEffects of d-chiro-inositol in lean women with the polycystic ovary syndromeEndocr Pract.(2002 Nov-Dec)
    6. Ovulation - Raffone E, Rizzo P, Benedetto VInsulin sensitiser agents alone and in co-treatment with r-FSH for ovulation induction in PCOS womenGynecol Endocrinol.(2010 Apr)
    7. Acne Symptoms - Zacchè MM, Caputo L, Filippis S, Zacchè G, Dindelli M, Ferrari AEfficacy of myo-inositol in the treatment of cutaneous disorders in young women with polycystic ovary syndromeGynecol Endocrinol.(2009 Aug)
    8. Glycemic Control - Costantino D, Minozzi G, Minozzi E, Guaraldi CMetabolic and hormonal effects of myo-inositol in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a double-blind trialEur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci.(2009 Mar-Apr)
    9. Glycemic Control - Genazzani AD, Lanzoni C, Ricchieri F, Jasonni VMMyo-inositol administration positively affects hyperinsulinemia and hormonal parameters in overweight patients with polycystic ovary syndromeGynecol Endocrinol.(2008 Mar)
    10. Insulin - Maan P, Gautam R, Vasudevan S, Menon GR, Arora A, Nair A, Jabbar PK, Arora TPharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in Indian Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Pharmaceuticals (Basel).(2025 May 2)
    11. Blood glucose - Greff D, Juhász AE, Váncsa S, Váradi A, Sipos Z, Szinte J, Park S, Hegyi P, Nyirády P, Ács N, Várbíró S, Horváth EMInositol is an effective and safe treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Reprod Biol Endocrinol.(2023-Jan-26)
    12. Fertility - Ciotta L, Stracquadanio M, Pagano I, Carbonaro A, Palumbo M, Gulino FEffects of myo-inositol supplementation on oocyte's quality in PCOS patients: a double blind trialEur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci.(2011 May)
    13. Fertility - Unfer V, Carlomagno G, Rizzo P, Raffone E, Roseff SMyo-inositol rather than D-chiro-inositol is able to improve oocyte quality in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. A prospective, controlled, randomized trialEur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci.(2011 Apr)
    14. Gestational Diabetes Risk - D'Anna R, Di Benedetto V, Rizzo P, Raffone E, Interdonato ML, Corrado F, Di Benedetto AMyo-inositol may prevent gestational diabetes in PCOS womenGynecol Endocrinol.(2012 Jun)
    15. Pregnancy Complications - Showell MG, Mackenzie-Proctor R, Jordan V, Hodgson R, Farquhar CInositol for subfertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2018-12-20)
    16. Weight - Maeba R, Hara H, Ishikawa H, Hayashi S, Yoshimura N, Kusano J, Takeoka Y, Yasuda D, Okazaki T, Kinoshita M, Teramoto TMyo-inositol treatment increases serum plasmalogens and decreases small dense LDL, particularly in hyperlipidemic subjects with metabolic syndromeJ Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo).(2008 Jun)
    17. Weight - Santamaria A, Giordano D, Corrado F, Pintaudi B, Interdonato ML, Vieste GD, Benedetto AD, D'Anna ROne-year effects of myo-inositol supplementation in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndromeClimacteric.(2012 Oct)
    18. Lung Cancer Risk - Stephen Lam, Annette McWilliams, Jean LeRiche, Calum MacAulay, Lee Wattenberg, Eva SzaboA phase I study of myo-inositol for lung cancer chemopreventionCancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev.(2006 Aug)
    19. Excessive Hair Growth - Minozzi M, D'Andrea G, Unfer VTreatment of hirsutism with myo-inositol: a prospective clinical studyReprod Biomed Online.(2008 Oct)
    20. Depression Symptoms - Taylor MJ, Wilder H, Bhagwagar Z, Geddes JInositol for depressive disorders.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2004)
    21. Depression Symptoms - Levine J, Barak Y, Gonzalves M, Szor H, Elizur A, Kofman O, Belmaker RHDouble-blind, controlled trial of inositol treatment of depressionAm J Psychiatry.(1995 May)
    22. Depression Symptoms - Joseph Levine, Mirtha Gonsalves, Izak Babur, Shaul Stier, Avner Elizur, Ora Kofman, R. H. BelmakerInositol 6 g daily may be effective in depression but not in schizophreniaHuman Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental.()
    23. Depression Symptoms - Nierenberg AA, Ostacher MJ, Calabrese JR, Ketter TA, Marangell LB, Miklowitz DJ, Miyahara S, Bauer MS, Thase ME, Wisniewski SR, Sachs GSTreatment-resistant bipolar depression: a STEP-BD equipoise randomized effectiveness trial of antidepressant augmentation with lamotrigine, inositol, or risperidoneAm J Psychiatry.(2006 Feb)
    24. Depression Symptoms - Nemets B, Mishory A, Levine J, Belmaker RHInositol addition does not improve depression in SSRI treatment failuresJ Neural Transm.(1999)
    25. Anxiety Symptoms - Gelber D, Levine J, Belmaker RHEffect of inositol on bulimia nervosa and binge eatingInt J Eat Disord.(2001 Apr)
    26. Glycemic Control - Wei J, Yan J, Yang HInositol Nutritional Supplementation for the Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Nutrients.(2022-Jul-09)
    27. Glycemic Control - Corrado F, D'Anna R, Di Vieste G, Giordano D, Pintaudi B, Santamaria A, Di Benedetto AThe effect of myoinositol supplementation on insulin resistance in patients with gestational diabetesDiabet Med.(2011 Aug)
    28. Blood glucose - Brown J, Crawford TJ, Alsweiler J, Crowther CADietary supplementation with myo-inositol in women during pregnancy for treating gestational diabetes.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2016-Sep-07)
    29. Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms - Salloway S, Sperling R, Keren R, Porsteinsson AP, van Dyck CH, Tariot PN, Gilman S, Arnold D, Abushakra S, Hernandez C, Crans G, Liang E, Quinn G, Bairu M, Pastrak A, Cedarbaum JM, ELND005-AD201 InvestigatorsA phase 2 randomized trial of ELND005, scyllo-inositol, in mild to moderate Alzheimer diseaseNeurology.(2011 Sep 27)
    30. Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms - Barak Y, Levine J, Glasman A, Elizur A, Belmaker RHInositol treatment of Alzheimer's disease: a double blind, cross-over placebo controlled trialProg Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry.(1996 May)
    31. Schizophrenia symptoms - Levine J, Umansky R, Ezrielev G, Belmaker RHLack of effect of inositol treatment in chronic schizophreniaBiol Psychiatry.(1993 Apr 15-May 1)
    32. Schizophrenia symptoms - Levine J, Goldberger I, Rapaport A, Schwartz M, Schield C, Elizur A, Belmaker RH, Shapiro J, Agam GCSF inositol in schizophrenia and high-dose inositol treatment of schizophreniaEur Neuropsychopharmacol.(1994 Dec)
    33. Anxiety Symptoms - Palatnik A, Frolov K, Fux M, Benjamin JDouble-blind, controlled, crossover trial of inositol versus fluvoxamine for the treatment of panic disorderJ Clin Psychopharmacol.(2001 Jun)
    34. Anxiety Symptoms - Benjamin J, Levine J, Fux M, Aviv A, Levy D, Belmaker RHDouble-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of inositol treatment for panic disorderAm J Psychiatry.(1995 Jul)
    35. Panic Attacks - Benjamin J, Nemetz H, Fux M, Bleichman I, Agam GAcute inositol does not attenuate m-CPP-induced anxiety, mydriasis and endocrine effects in panic disorderJ Psychiatr Res.(1997 Jul-Aug)
    36. Depression Symptoms - Gianfranco C, Vittorio U, Silvia B, Francesco DMyo-inositol in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorderHum Psychopharmacol.(2011 Oct)
    37. PMS Symptoms - Nemets B, Talesnick B, Belmaker RH, Levine JMyo-inositol has no beneficial effect on premenstrual dysphoric disorderWorld J Biol Psychiatry.(2002 Jul)
    38. Bipolar Disorder Symptoms - Chengappa KN, Levine J, Gershon S, Mallinger AG, Hardan A, Vagnucci A, Pollock B, Luther J, Buttenfield J, Verfaille S, Kupfer DJInositol as an add-on treatment for bipolar depressionBipolar Disord.(2000 Mar)
    39. Autism Symptoms - Levine J, Aviram A, Holan A, Ring A, Barak Y, Belmaker RHInositol treatment of autismJ Neural Transm.(1997)
    40. OCD Symptoms - Fux M, Levine J, Aviv A, Belmaker RHInositol treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorderAm J Psychiatry.(1996 Sep)
    41. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms - Kaplan Z, Amir M, Swartz M, Levine JInositol treatment of post-traumatic stress disorderAnxiety.(1996)
    42. Forgetting - Levine J, Pomerantz T, Stier S, Belmaker RHLack of effect of 6 g inositol treatment of post-ECT cognitive function in humansJ Psychiatr Res.(1995 Nov-Dec)
    43. Psoriasis Symptoms - Allan SJ, Kavanagh GM, Herd RM, Savin JAThe effect of inositol supplements on the psoriasis of patients taking lithium: a randomized, placebo-controlled trialBr J Dermatol.(2004 May)
    44. Fertility - Lisi F, Carfagna P, Oliva MM, Rago R, Lisi R, Poverini R, Manna C, Vaquero E, Caserta D, Raparelli V, Marci R, Moscarini MPretreatment with myo-inositol in non polycystic ovary syndrome patients undergoing multiple follicular stimulation for IVF: a pilot studyReprod Biol Endocrinol.(2012 Jul 23)
    45. Triglycerides - Tabrizi R, Ostadmohammadi V, Lankarani KB, Peymani P, Akbari M, Kolahdooz F, Asemi ZThe effects of inositol supplementation on lipid profiles among patients with metabolic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Lipids Health Dis.(2018-May-24)
    46. Retinal Function - Du Y, He Y, Wang YL, Zhou JG, Chen CThe efficacy and safety of inositol supplementation in preterm infants to prevent retinopathy of prematurity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Ophthalmol.(2019-Jun-25)