Inositol

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Pregnancy blood sugar³

  In pregnant women with gestational diabetes, inositol supplements were linked to lower blood sugar and fewer early births.

• Benefit

  Diabetes in pregnancy⁴

  Myo-inositol may lower the chance of gestational diabetes, but scientists are not yet sure.

• Benefit

  Cholesterol and blood fats⁵

  In people with metabolic diseases, inositol supplements may lower triglycerides and total and LDL cholesterol, but not HDL.

• Benefit

  Hormones and blood sugar in PCOS⁶

  In women with PCOS, taking D-chiro-inositol improved insulin sensitivity and hormone levels, especially in those with diabetic relatives.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar in pregnancy⁷

  In pregnant women, myo-inositol lowered a blood marker linked to insulin resistance.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  Cancer prevention⁸

  Inositol and IP6 are being studied for helping prevent cancer and boost the immune system.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.