Inositol – Its Role in Human Organism and in Development of Some Diseases
Author: Mihaleva, Ivelina D.
Abstract:
Inositol is a carbocyclic sugar polyalcohol
and is found in many mammalian tissues mediating cellular signal transduction, where it is most
often involved as a secondary messenger in response to various hormones, neurotransmitters,
growth factors and many other processes. By epimerization of its hydroxyl groups, nine possible
stereoisomers can be generated, two of which are of great physiological and clinical importance:
myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol.
Myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol are normally stored in the kidney, brain and liver and are required
for functions such as signal transduction, metabolic flux, insulin signaling, regulation of ion channel
permeability, stress response, and also take involvement in embryonic development as well.
Inositol deficiency is involved in the pathogenesis of some diseases. Adding it as a therapy
for various diseases improves the course of biological processes and leads to the restoration of
the body’s impaired functions.
