The power of inositol: how myo- and D-chiro-inositol improve reproductive and metabolic health

Inozitoli su tvari slične vitaminima B kompleksa koje se proizvode i prirodno nastaju u ljudskom tijelu. Postoji devet molekula (stereoizomera) inozitola, od kojih su najvažniji myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol. Inositols have attracted the attention of medical researchers, especially endocrinologists and gynecologists, only in the last twenty years, although their story goes back a long way. More specifically, inositols were discovered and isolated from muscle cells by the German physician and chemist Johannes Joseph Scherer back in 1850. The first name he gave to these cyclic molecules was "Muskelzucker" or translated from German, muscle sugar.

The role of myo-inositol is to transmit the messages of hormones important for reproduction, thyroid function and insulin

Inositol is an important building block of lipids, more precisely, myo-inositol is incorporated into cell membranes where it acts as a messenger in the transmission of endocrine signals, influencing the control of the production of the hormones FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone that regulates reproductive functions in men and women), TSH (pituitary hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland) and insulin. To better understand the role of myo-inositol in the body, we can imagine the cell as a factory, and the hormones FSH, TSH and insulin as directors who send important instructions, but who cannot enter the factory by themselves. In this case, myo-inositol is a messenger with a walkie-talkie that takes the message and quickly transmits it to the exact person who needs to do the task inside the factory.

Kod ljudi se velika količina mio-inozitola (otprilike 1 g/dan) unosi prehranom, pri čemu su žitarice, mahunarke, ulja sjemenki i orašasti plodovi glavni izvori, ali značajan dio dnevnih potreba tijelo proizvodi samo (oko 4 g/dan), pri čemu su bubrezi glavni proizvođači. Kada proizvodnja mio-inozitola nije dovoljna za pokrivanje bioloških potreba čovjeka, nužan je odgovarajući unos inozitola putem hrane i/ili dodataka prehrani. Mnogi čimbenici utječu na dnevne potrebe za mio-inozitolom, a they are increased in people who consume large amounts of caffeine, sufferers of diabetes or insulin resistance, in people who consume large amounts of carbohydrates through diet, but also in elderly people.

Myo-inositol inside cells helps move glucose transporters to the cell surface. Glucose transporter is a protein that facilitates the transfer of glucose through the cell membrane, that is, promotes the entry of glucose into the cells. Tissues that consume a lot of glucose, such as the brain, heart, and ovary, contain more myo-inositol than other tissues.

D-chiro-inositol, glucose store and protein coordinator for greater insulin efficiency

Pod utjecajem inzulina određeni enzimi pretvaraju mio-inozitol u D-kiro-inozitol, po potrebi, kako bi se osiguralo pravilno funkcioniranje metabolizma. Uloga D-kiro-inozitola u organizmu je poticanje stvaranja glikogena, oblika koji „skladišti“ glukozu pa je posebno važan u jetri i mišićima. D-kiro-inozitol pojačava djelovanje ključnih molekula koje prenose signal inzulina u stanicama. Točnije, D-kiro-inozitol poboljšava djelovanje inzulina na način da usklađuje djelovanje proteina: dok jedne aktivira, drugima smanjuje djelovanje. Zahvaljujući tome, D-kiro-inozitol smanjuje količinu slobodne glukoze unutar stanica, stvarajući razliku u koncentraciji glukoze koja dodatno potiče ulazak glukoze iz krvi. Uz to, potiče i rad enzima (piruvat-dehidrogenaze), čime se ubrzavaju procesi razgradnje glukoze i proizvodnja energije. Sveukupno, myo- and D-chiro-inositol together improve the body's sensitivity to insulin, meaning the body needs less insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.

If myo-inositol is a messenger with a walkie-talkie that transmits hormone messages within the factory, then D-chiro-inositol is like a storekeeper and coordinator within the factory that receives the message and immediately decides where to store excess sugar and which machines to start to produce energy in an efficient manner. As a storekeeper, it stores glucose in stores, the liver and muscles, and as a protein coordinator, it signals some to work at full strength, while calming others down so that insulin can be better used. When insulin "knocks on the door" it decides whether the sugar will be used for storage or for energy.

Inositols important for fertility of both sexes

Inozitoli, osobito mio-inozitol, nisu važni samo za metabolizam glukoze, već i za rad ženskog i muškog reproduktivnog sustava. Kod žena mio-inozitol pomaže djelovanju hormona FSH, koji je ključan za sazrijevanje jajne stanice i razvoj stanica koje je okružuju. Također pomaže u stvaranju anti-Müllerovog hormona (AMH), važnog za plodnost te utječe na kvalitetu jajne stanice i embrija. Inozitoli se čine posebno korisni za žene s PCOS-om jer utječu na nekoliko aspekata reproduktivne funkcije, including menstrual cycle regularity, ovulation, fertility and insulin resistance, which can be one of the reasons for reduced fertility in women.

Kod muškaraca je koncentracija mio-inozitola u spolnim organima viša nego u krvi, što pokazuje da ima važnu ulogu i u muškoj plodnosti. Pomaže u sperm motility, their preparation for fertilization and penetration into the ovum. That is why it is often used as a support in the treatment of male infertility, especially in conditions with poor sperm quality.

Are dietary supplements with inositol safe?

Clinical studies have shown that inositols have a good safety profile. In the studies, the tested doses ranged between 2 and 18 grams per day, with the fact that mild side effects such as stomach problems were only recorded at higher doses. Dietary supplements with inositol have also been tested in pregnant women and no worrisome effects have been reported.

Dodatak prehrani s mio- i D-kiro-inozitolom – Almagea® Metaboss+

Studije provedene s the combination of myo- and D-chiro-inositol in a ratio of 40:1 showed better results than the use of only myo-inositol or D-chiro-inositol. Budući da D-kiro-inozitol i mio-inozitol vjerojatno djeluju putem različitih bioloških mehanizama, oba oblika inozitola mogu se sinergijski kombinirati u pristupu s više ciljeva, i to u omjeru koji odgovara njihovom prirodnom fiziološkom udjelu u krvi (40:1). Almagea® Metaboss+ je dodatak prehrani namijenjen za održavanje normalne razine šećera u krvi i metaboličko zdravlje, a sadrži mio- i D-kiro-inozitol u preporučenom omjeru 40:1. Osim inozitola, Almagea Metaboss+ sadrži i patentirane sastojke, ekstrakt bijelog duda (Reducose®) i aktivni folat (Quatrefolic®), koji su istraživani u brojnim kliničkim studijama te im je dokazano povoljno djelovanje na zdravlje. Uz kombinaciju vitamina B₆, B₉ and B₁₂ te kroma, Almagea Metaboss+ je dodatak prehrani koji olakšava brigu o metaboličkom zdravlju i održavanje poželjnih vrijednosti glukoze i inzulina u krvi u svrhu boljeg općeg zdravlja i dugovječnosti.

Literature

• Greff D, Juhász AE, Váncsa S, et al. Inositol is an effective and safe treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2023;21(1):10.
• Dinicola S, Unfer V, Facchinetti F, et al. Inositols: From Established Knowledge to Novel Approaches. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(19):10575.
• Monastra, G., Unfer, V., Harrath, A.H., & Bizzarri, M. (2016). Combining treatment with myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol (40:1) is effective in restoring ovarian function and metabolic balance in PCOS patients. Gynecological Endocrinology, 33(1), 1–9.