Vitamin B8 (Inositol, inositol, inositdroretinol)

Inositol (inositol)[edit | edit code]

Inositol content in some foods

Historical background[edit | edit code]

Inositol

(synonym:
inositol
) was discovered in the urine of diabetic patients more than a hundred years ago, but its possible role in nutrition was discussed only in 1941, when Gavin and McHenry established the lipotropic effect of inositol in rats. Inositol was then shown to reverse diet-induced alopecia in rats and mice. In 1957, Eagle et al. found that this substance is necessary for the growth of crops; any mammalian cells. However, for a number of reasons outlined below, the role of inositol as a vitamin in humans remains unclear.

General characteristics of vitamin B8 (Inositol, inositol, inositdroretinol)

Vitamin B8 was discovered in 1848 by the German chemist Liebig, and in 1928 this substance was included in the classification of vitamins as B8.
During research, its role in the human body was established. Vitamin B8 ensures the normal course of metabolic processes, being part of many enzymes, activates lipid metabolism (which promotes active weight loss), regulates cholesterol levels, thereby helping to prevent the development of atherosclerosis, obesity and other diseases caused by excess weight.

Vitamin B8 is a vitamin-like substance (as it can be synthesized by the body), one of the most important B vitamins, has another name - inositol, inositol, inositdroretinol.

Physicochemical properties of vitamin B8

In its pure form, vitamin B8 is a water-soluble powder with a crystalline structure that has a sweetish taste. Vitamin B8 is found in large quantities and used in the tissues of the nervous system, the lens of the eye, tear and seminal fluid. It can be synthesized in the body from glucose (calorizer). It is resistant to acids and alkalis, but when heated, B8 quickly collapses.

Food Sources of Vitamin B8

Brewer's yeast, wheat bran, wheat germ, beef heart, oranges, green peas, brains, bread made from regular flour, raisins, wild rice, gooseberries, melon, cabbage, carrots, citrus fruits are very high in inositol content.

Daily requirement for vitamin B8

The daily requirement for vitamin B8 for an adult is 1-1.5 g per day, for children 100-500 mg. There is no established upper tolerable intake level for the vitamin.

Beneficial properties of vitamin B8

Inositol stimulates brain activity, improves concentration, stimulates mental activity, reduces brain fatigue, and increases its ability to remember information.

Inositol is involved in the metabolism of fats in the body, improves the transmission of nerve impulses, and helps maintain a healthy liver, skin and hair.

Vitamin B8 is an essential element for hair, helping to strengthen and restore hair structure, preventing hair loss. This vitamin is included in many cosmetic products for skin and hair. Inositol regulates gas exchange in the skin, which helps maintain hair moisture.

Vitamin B8 reduces cholesterol in the blood, prevents fragility of the walls of blood vessels, and regulates the motor activity of the stomach and intestines. It has a calming effect.

Inositol, like other vitamins in this group, actively affects the functioning of the reproductive system. Affects the reproductive functions of both sexes. Without this substance, not a single egg cell divides and fertilization does not occur.

Harmful properties of vitamin B8

In rare cases, allergic reactions may occur when taking large doses of vitamin B8.

Vitamin B8 absorption

Vitamin B8 is best absorbed in the presence of vitamin E and other B vitamins in the body (calorizator). Inositol also interacts well with vitamin B4 with the subsequent formation of lecithin.

Vitamin B8 deficiency in the body

Its deficiency can lead to disruption of many processes in the body.

Signs of vitamin B8 deficiency:

constipation;
increased irritability;
insomnia;
skin diseases;
baldness;
growth arrest;
circulatory disorders;
vision weakens.

The absence or deficiency of vitamin B8 in a person's diet, like any other vitamin in this group, can render the presence of other B vitamins useless.

Excess vitamin B8 in the body

Hypervitaminosis of vitamin B8 is practically impossible, since the body constantly requires large amounts of inositol. In rare cases of overdose, allergic reactions may develop.

Interaction of vitamin B8 (Inositol, inositol, inositdroretinol) with other substances

Inositol combines with choline to form lecithin. Alcohol and caffeine found in tea and coffee destroy inositol.

Vitamin B8 together with choline (vitamin B4) enhance the effectiveness of the physiological action of vitamin E.

About the human need for vitamins, watch the video “Organic Chemistry. Human need for vitamins"

Author: Marina L. (especially for) Copying this article in whole or in part is prohibited.

Pharmacological action[edit | edit code]

When administered intravenously to a person in a dose of 1-2 g, inositol has no visible effect on physiological functions. The physiological role of inositol is somewhat similar to that of choline. As part of phosphatidylinositol, inositol is part of the phospholipids of cell membranes and plasma lipoproteins. Under the influence of many hormones, paracrine factors and mediators, membrane phospholipids release polyphosphorylated inositol derivatives. One of these derivatives, IP3, acts as a second messenger, stimulating the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores.

Inositol against polycystic ovary syndrome

September 7, 2018
49757

Prevention
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): causes, manifestations, possible consequences. Inositol: mechanism of action, causes of deficiency, consumption rates. Source of inositol: Myofert (Inositol 1000 mg + Folic acid 0.2 mg).
The body of a healthy person has a very precise and fine tuning of all its systems. Even a small failure in the settings activates a chain of interconnected changes, which leads to imbalance and deviation from the norm, that is, to “unhealthy.” The reproductive system in a woman’s body is configured and controlled, among other things, by hormones and their ratio at each moment of time. An untimely change in the concentration of any of them may lead to a barely noticeable, but nevertheless, malfunction in the functioning of the reproductive system.

A common disease in women of reproductive age is the so-called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), also known as Stein-Leventhal syndrome, which is a polyendocrine disease and is accompanied by dysfunction of the ovaries (absence or irregularity of ovulation), increased secretion of androgens, pancreas (hypersecretion of insulin) , adrenal cortex (hypersecretion of adrenal androgens), hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Completely absent or irregular monthly cycles are a cause of infertility. An increase in the level of androgens (male sex hormones) leads to the appearance of male-pattern hair growth (hirsutism) and sometimes to male-pattern body changes (excessive muscles, loss of skin elasticity, deepening of the voice). In addition, “male pattern” often causes weight gain, obesity and hair loss (bald patches on the sides of the forehead and on the top of the head), and dark pigment spots appear on the skin. Small wrinkles and folds, stretch marks (stretch marks) may appear on the skin on the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks. Swelling, pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, and pelvic area are often bothersome. All this can be accompanied by irritability, nervousness, aggression, mood swings and depression. A woman's presence of PCOS carries risks of more serious diseases, such as endometrial hyperplasia and cancer, breast cancer, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, increased blood pressure, increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke, and the risk of developing venous thromboembolism. . The causes of PCOS include both hereditary and environmental factors. A significant role in the development of PCOS is played by insulin resistance (IR) and, as a consequence, the resulting hyperinsulemia (HI). Insulin is the “conductor” of sugar from the blood into the cells. Insulin molecules bind to sugar molecules and “bring” them to insulin receptors located on the cell membrane. However, if some of these receptors have undergone changes, including under the influence of external factors, then these receptors cease to “recognize” the insulin molecule and do not allow the entire complex into the cell. This is insulin resistance. And the cells do not have enough sugar as a source of energy! Cells require “fuel”! The body believes that there is not enough insulin, because sugar is present in the blood and increases the release of insulin, the concentration of which increases. This is hyperinsulemia. Sugar utilization is very important, but not the only function of insulin. In the GI state, the insulin level is increased and this insulin, through secondary messengers, actively influences the increase in the synthesis of hormones in the woman’s body, such as luteinizing hormone (LH) in the pituitary gland, and directly on the increase in the synthesis of androgens (male sex hormones) in the ovarian tissues. LH, actively synthesized in the pituitary gland, also stimulates the synthesis of androgens in the ovaries. Thus, in a state of IR, insulin (through its derivatives) actively stimulates the synthesis of precisely androgens (male sex hormones), which become excess. Female sex hormones (estrogens) are synthesized from male ones under the influence of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), the synthesis of which does not increase. In such a situation, an excess of androgens/lack of estrogen occurs in the female body, which leads to a stop in the growth of follicles that began in accordance with the monthly cycle. The egg does not mature, ovulation does not occur, and the follicle, having stopped developing, transforms into a cyst. Repeated cycles that do not progress to the ovulation stage accumulate underdeveloped follicles (cysts) in the ovaries, which leads to PCOS, the manifestations and probable consequences of which we have already examined.

Inositol and its role in reducing insulin resistance/hyperinsulemia

Inositol (vitamin B8), like other vitamins/vitamin-like substances, does not act unidirectionally in the body.
It forms compounds with various substances in the body and has multidirectional effects on the body. Once inositol enters the body, it is transformed, and the main function is that its numerous derivatives (more than 230 of them are known today) are involved in intracellular signal transmission, ensuring the functioning of receptors for insulin, catecholamines, hormones, growth factors and others that are no less important for life. body. To date, more than 10 proteins (inositol derivatives) are known that are actively involved in the metabolism of sugars. These proteins (inositol derivatives), together with calcium and magnesium ions, transmit the signal from the insulin receptor into the cells of various tissues. These intracellular processes, initiated by inositol derivatives, in turn lead to an increase in the expression (production) of the glucose transporter protein, initiate the processes of insulin adsorption to receptors, stimulate the processing of carbohydrates and fats to maintain the energy metabolism of the cell, thereby reducing the risk of developing insulin resistance, hyperinsulemia, diabetes, overweight, and obesity. Inositol also increases the level of the hormone adiponectin, which in turn increases insulin-mediated glucose uptake. Inositol belongs to the B vitamins and significantly potentiates (strengthens) their effect on the human body. Moreover, it turns out that if the body does not have enough inositol, then the remaining B vitamins almost completely lose their beneficial properties and their effect is noticeably reduced. Folic acid belongs to the B vitamins (B9) and, therefore, inositol enhances its beneficial effects, which prevents the appearance of such serious defects in the fetus as a fetal neural tube defect (NTD). In addition to folic acid deficiency during pregnancy, a woman may have folic acid resistance, that is, inability to absorb folic acid, which can lead to the serious consequences described. Inositol helps overcome such resistance to folic acid. Scientific publications have shown that women who took folic acid in their first pregnancy and nevertheless had NTD pathology in the fetus, taking folic acid and inositol in subsequent pregnancies, gave birth to healthy children. [1] Thus, it is the combined intake of folic acid and inositol that is more likely to prevent the development of such a severe pathology as fetal NTD. Taking many vitamin complexes containing B vitamins can be practically useless if the body has a deficiency of inositol, which must be replenished.

Why might inositol deficiency occur?
Inositol is a provitamin, which means that the body itself can partially synthesize endogenous inositol to meet the daily requirement. Up to 70-75% of the daily requirement of inositol, which is 4-8 grams, is synthesized by a healthy body from glucose. This means that you need to get about 1-2 grams of inositol per day from the outside, which in general does not seem so difficult, since inositol is included in many vegetables, fruits and animal products. However, inositol is significantly destroyed by heat treatment. In addition, studies have shown that such common products that we consume almost daily, such as tea, coffee, alcohol and some medications, reduce both the production of endogenous inositol and the digestibility of inositol supplied from outside by up to 50-70%! Since inositol is synthesized from glucose, metabolic disorders of glucose metabolism negatively affect its synthesis. Thus, we can say that modern man is deficient in inositol.

All this indicates that even for a person who does not have external health problems, additional intake of inositol is necessary, the source of which can be “MYOFERT”, which contains 1000 mg in 1 sachet. inositol and 0.2 mg folic acid. Taking 4 sachets per day can significantly compensate for the loss of inositol due to its destruction and/or decreased synthesis and provide the body with the daily requirement of both inositol and folic acid. "MYOFERT" helps reduce insulin resistance/hyperinsulemia, which leads to a decrease in the level of male sex hormones and the elimination of androgenic disorders in women, which in turn helps restore ovarian function, metabolic and hormonal parameters, and restore ovulation. After taking inositol 2 x 2000 mg per day and folic acid 2 x 0.2 mg for 10.5 weeks, 70% of patients with PCOS recovered their cycle and ovulation. More than 15% of patients with PCOS become pregnant! [2]. Restoring ovulation is the first step towards achieving the desired pregnancy in a natural cycle. "MYOFERT" can be recommended for use in assisted reproductive technology (ART) protocols. The use of inositol and folic acid can improve not only the quality of oocytes in patients [3], but also the quality of embryos [4]. In addition, the use of this combination allows you to reduce the number of mature oocytes used and reduce the amount of hormones during ovarian stimulation, which reduces the risk of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome [5]. Inositol in a daily dosage of 4000 mg + folic acid can reduce the risk of pregnancy pathology such as gestational diabetes by three times [6]. Folic acid, which is part of "MYOFERT", allows you to avoid the development of egg pathology, placental abruption, miscarriage and such severe developmental defects in the child, such as NTD [1], cleft lip, mental retardation, anemia.

1.Cavalli P, Tonni G, Grosso E, Poggiani C. 2011. Effects of inositol supplementation in a cohort of mothers at risk of producing an NTD pregnancy.
Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol 91:962–965. 2.Pedro-Antonio Regidor and Adolf Eduard Schindler //Myoinositol as a Safe and Alternative Approach in the Treatment of Infertile PCOS Women: A German Observational Study. International Journal of Endocrinology Volume 2016, Article ID 9537632, 5 pages https://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9537632 3.Papaleo E.et al. Myo-inositol may improve oocyte quality in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. A prospective, controlled, randomized trial. (English) // Fertility and sterility. - 2009. - Vol. 91, no. 5. - P. 1750-1754. 4.L. Ciotta, M. Stracquadanio, I. Pagano, A. Carbonaro, M. Palumbo, and F. Gulino, “Effects of Myo-Inositol supplementation on oocyte's quality in PCOS patients: a double blind trial,” European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, vol. 15, no. 5, pp. 509–514, 2011. 5. Lisi F. et al. Pretreatment with myo-inositol in non polycystic ovary syndrome patients undergoing multiple follicular stimulation for IVF: a pilot study. (English) // Reproductive biology and endocrinology. RB&E. - 2012. - Vol. 10. - P. 52. 6.R. D'Anna, V. Di Benedetto, P. Rizzo, E. Raffone, M. L. Interdonato, F. Corrado & A. Di Benedetto Myo-inositol may prevent gestational diabetes in PCOS women. Gynecological Endocrinology, 2012; 28(6): 440–442

Need[edit | edit code]

The need for the presence of inositol in human food remains unproven, probably because it is produced by intestinal bacteria, persists in tissues for a long time after absorption, and can be synthesized de novo in some organs. However, this substance is found in high concentrations in human milk. It is possible that, like choline, it should be added to infant formulas to bring their composition closer to the composition of human milk (Committee on Nutrition, The American Academy of Pediatrics, 1993).

Food sources[edit | edit code]

Normal inositol intake is approximately 1 g/day, mainly from fruits and plant foods. Inositol is found in coarse grains in the form of hexaphosphate - phytin. In this form, it is partially absorbed because it is hydrolyzed in the intestinal mucosa. Inositol is also present in vegetables and animal products, but in different forms. Absorption, exchange and excretion. Inositol is quickly absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract. It is easily converted into glucose. Inositol prevents fasting hypoglycemia, but is about three times weaker than glucose. The normal concentration of inositol in plasma is about 5 mg/L (28 µmol/L). Its levels are particularly high in cardiac muscle, brain and skeletal muscle (1.6, 0.9 and 0.4 g/100 g dry weight, respectively). The inositol content in urine is low, but in diabetes mellitus in humans and animals it increases sharply, probably due to competition between inositol and glucose for reabsorption in the renal tubules.

Application.

Inositol has been used for diseases involving disorders of fat transport and metabolism, although there is no convincing evidence of its effectiveness. In diabetes mellitus, the nerves of animals and humans have an increased content of free sugars and a decreased content of myo-inositol; The incorporation of myo-inositol into the phospholipids of nerve cells is also impaired, but the effectiveness of treatment with myo-inositol in diabetic neuropathy remains unclear. New evidence points to the role of inositol deficiency in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome. Administration of D-chiroinositol to such patients increased insulin sensitivity and decreased levels of triglycerides and androgens in the blood (Nestler et al., 1999).

Inositol

General information

History of discovery

The first mention of this chemical compound dates back to the middle of the 19th century.
According to some sources, the discoverer was the German chemist Justus von Liebig (1848), but more often they say that the compound was discovered by the German chemist and physician Johann Joseph Scherer (1850). A new substance was discovered in muscle fibers. That is why it was given the name “inositol”, which comes from the Greek “inos” - “fiber”. Since the chemical structure of inositol is extremely similar to carbohydrates, at first the name “muscle sugar” was assigned to the compound. Only at the beginning of the 20th century. the substance was given the status of vitamin B8.

Physicochemical characteristics

Inositol (inositol, vitamin B8, cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol) is a hexahydric alcohol of cyclohexane (C6H12O6). White powdery crystalline substance, odorless, with a sweetish taste. It dissolves well in water, poorly in alcohols, and is practically insoluble in organic solvents. Does not deteriorate when exposed to air or direct sunlight. Non-hygroscopic. Stable at room temperature, destroyed when heated.

In nature, inositol is represented by nine stereoisomers (spatial configurations), the most common form with biological activity is myoinositol.

Metabolism

About 3/4 of the daily requirement of inositol is synthesized by the body itself, therefore inositol is classified as a vitamin-like substance.

Vitamin B8 can be synthesized in the body from glucose by enzymatic phosphorylation. The heart, liver and kidneys actively produce inositol, which is subsequently transported to all cells and tissues. Human blood contains at least 4.5 mcg/ml vitamin B8. The tissues of the nervous system, the lens, the back wall of the eye and the tear fluid are especially rich in inositol.

Sources

Inositol is found in all products of animal and plant origin, especially in liver, brain, meat, egg yolk, as well as in bread, potatoes, green peas, mushrooms, oranges, green peas, raisins, wild rice, gooseberries, melon, cabbage , carrots, citrus fruits.

Functions in the body

Inositol has been called the "elixir of youth" because... it helps support metabolic processes and protects against aging at the cellular level.

Inositol is part of the plasma membrane phospholipid phosphatidylinositol and its phosphorylated derivatives, which are found in all tissues, nervous tissue is especially rich in them. Phosphorylated forms of inositol are intermediaries in the action of a number of hormones. It promotes the release of calcium ions from its intracellular stores.

Inositol is necessary for a number of systems:

Vascular system: participates in the regulation of fat metabolism, helps reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, improves blood rheology, which prevents the formation of blood clots, and also promotes the elasticity of arterial walls.
Nervous system: improves the transmission of nerve signals, necessary for the proper development and functioning of spinal cord cells.
Mental activity: by participating in signal transmission processes, it helps improve concentration and memory ability.
Growth: By normalizing hormonal signaling, it promotes bone growth and muscle mass.
Reproductive system: necessary for the reproduction of sperm, participates in the division of the egg.
Vision: improves the condition of the visual system and prevents eye fatigue and visual impairment.

Consumption standards

The daily requirement for vitamin B8 for an adult is 1-1.5 g per day, for children 100-500 mg. There is no established upper tolerable intake level for the vitamin.

Symptoms of deficiency

Inositol deficiency in animals is manifested by fatty liver, baldness and anemia, and growth retardation in young animals.

Symptoms of inositol deficiency in humans are stress, insomnia, high cholesterol in the blood, impaired vision, skin rashes, and hair loss. Vitamin B8 deficiency can lead to infertility in both sexes.

Indications for use

Inositol is used as part of complex therapy for the following conditions:

diabetes;
asthenia, increased mental and physical stress, mental disorders (panic attacks, depression, etc.), Alzheimer's disease, sleep disorders, insomnia,
visual impairment associated with reduced retinal nutrition;
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, autism;
liver disease and cholelithiasis, gastrointestinal tract disorders (including reduced peristalsis and constipation);
hypertension and circulatory disorders, atherosclerosis;
dermatological diseases (including eczema and psoriasis, alopecia (baldness), hair problems.
disorders of the gonads, infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome.
overweight and obesity.

Safety (tolerability of various forms, symptoms of hypervitaminosis)

For most people, taking inositol does not cause any side effects. However, some people who take this substance in a volume of more than 12 g per day may experience the following side effects: nausea, sleep disturbances, headaches, increased fatigue, increased gas formation.

Contraindications

Individual intolerance.

Features of reception and interaction

Reduce the production and absorption of inositol: caffeine, tea, alcohol, antibiotics, estrogen drugs.