Inositol is an essential component of cell membrane phospholipids. It has weak lipotropic activity, and can move fat in and out of liver and intestine cells. Lower inositol levels contribute to a fatty liver that is common in diabeties. Inositol is involved in the synthesis of phospholipids, which are essential to the digestion and absorption of fats, facilitating the uptake of fatty acid by the cells, and regulating the transport of material in and out of the cells.
There are nine isomers of inositol and only one called meso-inositol (myo-insitol) is the only one that is biologically active. In a study on the nutrient requirements of cells in tissue culture, Eagle (1957) found that human cells maintained on a semisynthetic medim failed to grow without the addition of meso-innsitol.
Inositol nutrition is important when you need to balance the cholesterol load in the body and especially when cells are being created and developing. Inositol can be rapidily lost in the urine and a continuous supply needs to be given for cell growth.
Inositol is found in fruits, meat, milk, nuts, vegetables, whole grains and yeast.
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