How does inositol work?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Inositols are molecules naturally present in the body with a role in various cellular signaling pathways.[1][2][3] The most robust effect of supplementation with inositol is on blood glucose control,[4][5][6][7][8] and this effect may be explained by inositol’s role in insulin signaling and its ability to increase insulin sensitivity.[1][2][3] However, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanism(s) of action.[9][10]

    References

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    2. ^Berridge MJThe Inositol Trisphosphate/Calcium Signaling Pathway in Health and Disease.Physiol Rev.(2016-Oct)
    3. ^Chatree S, Thongmaen N, Tantivejkul K, Sitticharoon C, Vucenik IRole of Inositols and Inositol Phosphates in Energy Metabolism.Molecules.(2020-Nov-01)
    4. ^Miñambres I, Cuixart G, Gonçalves A, Corcoy REffects of inositol on glucose homeostasis: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsClin Nutr.(2019 Jun)
    5. ^Özturan A, Arslan S, Kocaadam B, Elibol E, İmamoğlu İ, Karadağ MGEffect of inositol and its derivatives on diabetes: a systematic review.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr.(2019)
    6. ^Motuhifonua SK, Lin L, Alsweiler J, Crawford TJ, Crowther CAAntenatal dietary supplementation with myo-inositol for preventing gestational diabetes.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2023-Feb-15)
    7. ^Mashayekh-Amiri S, Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi S, Abdolalipour S, Mirghafourvand MMyo-inositol supplementation for prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus in overweight and obese pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Diabetol Metab Syndr.(2022-Jul-06)
    8. ^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)
    9. ^Su XB, Ko AA, Saiardi ARegulations of myo-inositol homeostasis: Mechanisms, implications, and perspectives.Adv Biol Regul.(2023-Jan)
    10. ^Dinicola S, Unfer V, Facchinetti F, Soulage CO, Greene ND, Bizzarri M, Laganà AS, Chan SY, Bevilacqua A, Pkhaladze L, Benvenga S, Stringaro A, Barbaro D, Appetecchia M, Aragona C, Bezerra Espinola MS, Cantelmi T, Cavalli P, Chiu TT, Copp AJ, D'Anna R, Dewailly D, Di Lorenzo C, Diamanti-Kandarakis E, Hernández Marín I, Hod M, Kamenov Z, Kandaraki E, Monastra G, Montanino Oliva M, Nestler JE, Nordio M, Ozay AC, Papalou O, Porcaro G, Prapas N, Roseff S, Vazquez-Levin M, Vucenik I, Wdowiak AInositols: From Established Knowledge to Novel Approaches.Int J Mol Sci.(2021-Sep-30)