Inositol
Inositol is another lipotropic vitamin-like substance that is found in soy lecithin along with choline. Inositol is probably not a vitamin, but is still grouped with the B vitamins in many texts. Your body can create all the inositol it needs, so it's unnecessary to get the substance from your diet. Not all the functions of inositol are known, but like choline, it is involved with the movement of fats from the liver to the cells.
Key uses of inositol:
- Used in the body to help fat metabolism.
- Helps prevent cardiovascular disease and viral infections.
- Supports healthy hair and skin.
- Some studies show a positive effect on mental alertness when patients with Alzheimer's Disease are given doses of up to 6 grams a day.
Where you can find it: Inositol is found in whole grains, molasses, wheat germ, and nuts.
How much to take: Inositol has no known requirements, however, 500 to 1,000 mg is a therapeutic range.
Too little or too much: No clear concerns about toxicity or deficiency of inositol exist, although deficiency may be relevant to hair and skin problems, elevated cholesterol, and eye health.
