3516: Inositol or Vitamin B8 for Weight Loss on Nutrition Advice

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[00:00:57] It's another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily. And I'm Dr. Neal Malik. Hey there, happy Friday and welcome to another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily, where I answer your health questions related to fitness, diet and nutrition, and lots more. You send in the questions and I answer them for you. And we're now giving away an Optimal Living Daily workbook to you, free of charge, if you send in a relevant question. So, be sure to send one in before we run out.

[00:01:24] We can only do this if your address is in the U.S. for now, but we're happy to send a digital version if you're outside of the U.S. You can email a relevant health-related question to health at oldpodcast.com. Alright, and with that, let's hear today's question as we optimize your life. Today's question comes via email. Heidi writes,

[00:01:51] Hi Dr. Neal. My stepdaughter told me about a supplement she's been taking for weight loss. It's called inositol, or vitamin B8. I looked into it a little and it seems to help regulate hormones. I was wondering if you had heard of it and if it was safe. Thanks for what you do. Love the OLD Podcasts. Thank you for taking the time to send in your question, Heidi, and thank you for your kind words and for listening to all the shows in our network. Let me start by talking about what inositol actually is.

[00:02:20] First, I should clarify that inositol is not really a vitamin. You're right that it used to be referred to as vitamin B8, but it isn't anymore. Part of the reason for this is the body can make inositol on its own. So, what is it then anyway? It's actually a kind of sugar alcohol. And like I said, the body can make inositol on its own, but it most often comes from plant-based foods in our diets, like beans and citrus fruits.

[00:02:49] Now, when inositol is sold as a supplement, we might find it in different forms, like myoinositol, or d-chiroinositol, or inositol hexaphosphate. Myoinositol specifically is the form that's been most often studied. And based on studies so far, supplementing with myoinositol has been shown to help specific groups of individuals with weight loss. Specifically, those with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome,

[00:03:19] or PCOS. Now, this used to be referred to as polycystic ovary syndrome. And older women with a condition called metabolic syndrome. Now, metabolic syndrome is not specific to women. Anyone can receive a metabolic syndrome diagnosis if they meet certain criteria. These criteria include having high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high levels of fat in the blood, also known as having high triglycerides, and a large waistline.

[00:03:49] Okay, so, back to inositol supplementation. Studies are finding that these individuals, specifically those with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, and older women with metabolic syndrome, tend to lose weight when supplementing with myoinositol. Now, this may be because myoinositol helps women's bodies regulate certain hormones more effectively. Hormones like testosterone and insulin. Now, so, as not to over-promise and under-deliver,

[00:04:19] when we look at studies, the amount of body weight lost wasn't much, about 3 pounds over 12 weeks. So, because of these not super impressive results, some health professionals may be cautious about recommending myoinositol as a supplement. Because, again, most of these benefits were found in very specific groups, too. So, it's hard to say whether supplementing myoinositol would help males lose weight, for example, or help women that are not experiencing

[00:04:47] polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or help those that are not experiencing metabolic syndrome. You get the idea. Some studies also looked at whether myoinositol supplementation helps with mood disorders. Early studies showed some promise, meaning myoinositol supplementation helped relieve symptoms of depression, panic disorder, and bipolar disorder. But more recent studies have found supplementation may be no more effective than taking a placebo.

[00:05:16] The good news is, inositol supplements are generally recognized as safe by the FDA and by most countries within the European Union. But dosing, of course, is important. Most studies have found that 4 grams a day of myoinositol appears to be safe. At this dose, some may still experience mild side effects like diarrhea, nausea, bloating, headache, and dizziness. Alright, so what's the bottom line?

[00:05:44] Supplementing myoinositol is likely safe. It does appear to be effective for weight loss, but only for very specific groups of individuals, like those with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome and older women with metabolic syndrome. Now, this could be because inositol may help regulate testosterone and insulin levels. But the amount of weight lost isn't actually that much, about 3 pounds over 12 weeks. As far as supplementing inositol for helping with mood disorders

[00:06:14] like depression, panic disorder, and bipolar disorder, this is still considered controversial and not recommended as the only treatment for those with these conditions. Ultra Running Shoes are all about space. The space to go further, to feel better, to do something you never thought possible. And this space starts with UltraFit. Unlike traditional running shoes, UltraFit gives toes more room to move naturally.

[00:06:44] So every step is strong, balanced, and comfortable. Whatever you're lacing up for, stay out there. With Ultra. Shop now at ultrarunning.com. That's by State Farm. Listening to this podcast instead of doom scrolling? Smart move. Another smart move? Getting help from one of State Farm's 19,000 local agents when you choose to bundle home and auto. Bundling. Just another way to save

[00:07:13] with the personal price plan. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings, and eligibility vary by state. Thank you again for taking the time to send in your question, Heidi. Now, if you want to get your hands on our Optimal Living Daily Workbook and have your question answered right here on the show, send one in. You can email one to health at oldpodcast.com. Now, if you want to send one in via audio,

[00:07:41] come by oldpodcast.com slash ask to record from your computer. Or, you can do it the old-fashioned way and call in your question. The number is country code 1 61-ILOVE-OHD. That's 1 614-568-3643. All right, that'll do it for another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily. Thank you so much for listening every day and all the way through. I hope you have a great start to your weekend. And, of course,

[00:08:10] I'll see you back here tomorrow where your optimal life awaits.