Alternative Treatments for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Inositol Sub-Element IP6
Pronounced: i-'nO-si-towl
8
Category: Water Soluble element (Part of the B Vitamin
Family) 1
Essential or Not Essential: (It doesn't
mean that it is not necessary. It just means that the body can or cannot produce, or if
ingesting, it is essential): A healthy body should be able to produce. 2
RDA: No official RDA. 9
ODA: Up to 18 grams a day (increase
slowly) children under 40 pounds up to 6 grams a day. 4
I personally suggest only up to 14 grams a day.
Week 1 - 1 teaspoon/2x per day
Week 2 - 1 teaspoon/3x per day
Week 3 - 1.5 teaspoons/3x per day
Week 4 - 2 teaspoons/3x per day
Week 5 - 2.5 teaspoons/3x per day
Week 6 - 3 teaspoons/3x per day 4
Companion Nutrients: (needed for absorption or utilization
of this nutrient): Choline 1:1 ratio, B complex, Vitamin E and C. Linoleic
acid. 2
Deficiency Symptoms: Hardening of the Arteries, Imbalance
Cholesterol Levels, Poor Hair Growth, Poor Eye Function, Constipation, Skin
Problems 1
Toxicity or Cautions: None known, however, diarrhea often
develops from high dosages 2, as well as gas. It does
not interact harmfully with any of the present SSRIs. 4
Inositol appears to block Lithium action. 4
Additional Comments:A healthy body has higher levels of
Inositol in the body than any other vitamin excluding B-3 (Niacin). 1
Highest concentration of inositol is found in the brain and heart. 1
Inositol is a water soluble member of the vitamin B complex. 9
Inositol is one of several crystalline stereo isomeric cyclic alcohols
C6H12O6; myo inositol is a biologically active inositol that is a component
of the vitamin B complex and is a lipotropic agent. 8
It is also a type of sugar. Certain modified forms of inositol can be
used by the body to transmit signals inside and between cells. 6
A fat-solubilizing agent. Works with choline: helps to transport fat from
the liver. Helps to control blood cholesterol levels. 9
Clinical Trials show that Inositol can help relieve Depression 3
4 5 OCD 4 5 , Trichotillomania, Compulsive skin
picking, Anxiety 4 Panic attacks, Autism 5 ,
and is believed to help prevention of neural tube birth defects.
7
There are strong indications that that myo-inositol may help with some
on the conditions which SSRI's are shown to improve. This makes sense, since
insoitol is believed to be able to reverse desensitization of serotonin
receptors 7, helping with the utilization of serotonin.
There are some exceptions however, it has been noted during studies that
aggressive amounts of Inositol seems to aggrivate the symptoms of Attention
Deficit Disorder (ADD) 5 , Alzheimer's disease,
Autism, Schizophrenia and Electro convulsive therapy-induced memory impairment. 7
It is believed that Inositol is converted in the body to a substance that
regulates the action of serotonin within the brain. 4
Tests show that Myo-inositol crosses the blood-brain barrier. 7
Caffeine lowers inositol levels in the body. 4
Literary Review:
1 Velma J. Keith and Monteen Gordon, 1984, THE HOW
TO HERB BOOK, Mayfield Publications
2 Inositol Information Page, AnyVitamins.com, Retrieved
28 Nov 2004, http://www.anyvitamins.com/inositol-info.htm
3 Einat H, Karbovski H, Korik J, Tsalah D, Belmaker
RH, Beer Sheva Mental Health Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion
University of the Negev, Israel. , 1999 May;144(2):158-62, Inositol reduces
depressive-like behaviors
in two different animal models of depression, Psychopharmacology (Berl),
Retrieved 28 Nov 2004, http://www.biopsychiatry.com/inos.htm
4 Fred Penzel, Ph.D, Inositol and Trichotillomania,
Retrieved 28 Nov 2004, http://www.homestead.com/westsuffolkpsych/Inositol.html,
5 Levine J, Ministry of Health Mental Health Center,
Faculty of Health Sciences,
Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva, 1997 May, 7:2, 147-55, Controlled
trials of inositol in psychiatry, Retrieved 28 Nov 2004, http://www.biopsychiatry.com/inositol.htm
6 WEBNOX CORP., Meaning of INOSITOL, HyperDictionary,
Retrieved 28 Nov 2004, http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/inositol
7 Myo-Inositol, PDR Health, Retrieved 28 Nov 2004. http://www.gettingwell.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/myo_0145.shtml
8 Marriam-Webster Inc., 2001, Dictionary, AOL Research
& Learn Dictionary, Retrieved 30 Nov 2004,
9 Anne Collins, Vitamins for Diet Nutrition &
Weight Control, AC, Retrieved 30 Nov 2004. http://www.annecollins.com/nutrition/inositol.htm
