Inositol Benefits

vitamin inositol

(Last Updated On: October 16, 2016)

Inositol vitamin is a hexahydroxy cyclohexane. Of the nine possible isomers only the optically inactive isomer namely myo-inositol is the biologically active.


Inositol occurs in appreciable amount in the animal as well as plant kingdom.

  • Animal sources: Inositol is found in meat. Liver, brain, muscles, red blood cells, and tissues of eyes. Milk and yeast also contain considerable amount of inositol.

It may also be synthesized from glucose 6 phosphate and in human being it is mostly manufactured in the kidneys.


  • Inositol as phophatidylinositol 4, 5 bisphospahte is an important component of cell membrane phospholipids. When certain receptors present on the cell surface are occupied by their respective hormones which are ADH, acetylcholine and catecholamines, the enzyme phospholipase C is activated. A unique protein termed G protein is involved in both the receptor binding and activation of phospholipase C. These gives rise to very important second messengers which are 1, 2 diaclyglycerol and inositol 1, 4, 5 trisphosphate. These exert the following reactions:
    1. 1, 2 diaclyglycerol is an activator of protein kinase C, the activity of which is dependent on calcium ions.
    2. Inositol triphosphate releases large amounts of calcium ions from intracellular storage sites, i.e. mitochondria, sacroplasmic reticulum etc. The activated protein kinase C can phosphorylate specific substrates which show their specific effects. Various other hormones and hormone like substances bring about their effects by similar actions.
  • Its function to modulate serotonin activity.
  • It plays role in guidance of nerve.
  • It promotes growth of hairs.
  • It is important since inositol breaks down the fats and is therefore helpful in reducing cholesterol. So in human it has been shown to have a lipotropic effect.



The significance of inositol in human nutrition is still unsettled. In case of its extreme deficiency it may shows loss of hair, skin diseases such as eczema, eye abnormalities as well as increased cholesterol levels. In mice its deficiency may lead to growth retardation and a peculiar hairlessness.



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