Inositol for Men

The modern western diet, with its emphasis on salt, sugar, fat and a lack of emphasis on healthy fibers and fruits and vegetables, is not exactly inositol-friendly.

Such low-fiber, low-fruit diets lack key nutritional components, such as phytates and inositols, that are essential to sustaining optimal metabolic health…

…and, not to mention, sexual health, mental health, cardio health, and so on.

This is why many men and women, who are looking to stay metabolically and sexually fit, are also looking into inositol supplementation to make up for the poor inositol content of the modern diet; you can find inositol in the formula of the best multivitamin for men. 

Because not only is inositol lacking in our diets, but our high-glucose intake is also competing with inositol intake, meaning that even the inositol we do consume fails to sufficiently absorb into our bodies. ^[15]

But fear not: in this article on “Inositol for Men,” we cover the ins and outs of inositol’s (AKA. Vitamin B8) bio-mechanisms, as well as how you may improve your inositol levels and, thereby, optimize your metabolism and sexual health.

All you need to do is sit back and read this thing!

The Beginner’s Guide on Inositol and Male Health

If you search “inositol and testosterone,” most of the top results will link you towards studies on the effects of inositol on female health. However, inositol’s interactions with sex hormones, such as testosterone, are also pertinent to male health.

Obviously: testosterone is the male sex hormone.

But to explain the biological importance of inositol, we need to start with the basics:

What Exactly is Inositol?

Though often classified as a “B vitamin,” inositol is not a B vitamin… in fact, it’s not even a “vitamin,” hence why it’s sometimes referred to as a “pseudovitamin” or “vitamin-like.”

In truth, inositol is a carbocyclic sugar that’s structurally similar to glucose, the body’s primary food fuel for producing ATP energy, the body’s primary unit of cellular energy. Found in various plants and animals, inositol comes in many forms, or isomers; however, the two most common are myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol. ^[16]

Inositol is abundant in the brain, explaining why many people view inositol supplements as “nootropic” (or cognitive enhancing). But due to inositol’s involvement in other health systems, notably the sexual health system, it’s also used for other non-cognitive purposes.

In this article, we’ll cover the purposes of inositol, including how inositol works in the body. But before we do, let’s take a brief glance at one of the best inositol-containing supplements

Here it is:

Continue reading to learn more about how inositol works, including the health benefits of inositol specific to male health.

How Does Inositol Work?

Though technically a carbohydrate, inositol is considered “vitamin-like” (the unofficial “vitamin B8” of the B-vitamins) for its unique, life-essential biomechanisms.

Whereas many carbohydrates simply provide food fuel for mitochondria to convert into ATP energy, inositol plays a direct role in many other bodily processes.

A few key biomechanisms of inositol:

• PIP Synthesis – inositol is one of the precursors for the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol polyphosphates (PIPs), important biomolecules required for several cellular functions.
• Glucose Uptake – as a secondary messenger for insulin signaling, inositol plays a key role in insulin activity and, thus, glucose uptake.
• Cell Membrane Formation – inositol is required for the formation of cell membrane phospholipids and permeability of cell membranes.
• Neural Support – in addition to facilitating cell membrane formation, inositol may also aid with the process of neurogenesis, or the creation of neurons.

These biomechanisms spell out the metabolic and cognitive benefits of inositol, which amount to direct and indirect improvements in brain health, energy, sexual health, and skin health.

Why Men Should Supplement Inositol

Increased oxidative stress (free radicals) and inflammation disrupts glucose metabolism, sperm quality, male fertility, and virtually all other aspects of male health and performance. If not addressed, oxidative stress and inflammation may severely impact male health on several measures.

This is why the combination of inositol and antioxidants has increasingly become a popular strategy in improving male health and fertility. Through insulin-sensitizing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant mechanisms, inositol, in conjunction with antioxidants, may help support male sexual health and metabolism.

Symptoms of Inositol Deficiency

Okay, so the science and underlying workings of inositol are interesting, but how are you to know if you are deficient in inositol?

Though the symptoms of inositol deficiency are not conclusive, symptoms may include:

• Poor Skin Health
• Insomnia
• Digestive Issues
• Mood Imbalance
• Low Energy Levels
• Cognitive Difficulties
• Fertility Difficulties

Again, the modern diet makes sustaining sufficient inositol levels difficult, which is why taking an inositol-containing supplement increasingly effective at ameliorating the symptoms associated with inositol deficiency.

Inositol Review: Benefits for Male Health

Zinc, magnesium, vitamin D—these micronutrients tend to get more attention in the male health sphere than the likes of inositol. But this isn’t because inositol lacks any substantial health benefits, which cover the following range of effects:

• Sperm Quality – motility, concentration, and morphology may improve with inositol supplementation for men with spermatic issues.
• Male Fertility – a natural consequence of improved sperm quality is enhanced male fertility, one of the key reasons to supplement inositol.
• Mental Health – at adequate dosages, inositol may have an anxiolytic effect, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
• Skin Health – under conditions of poor inositol status, skin health and complexion worsen, linking inositol supplementation to skincare.
• Blood Sugar Regulation – as a glucose-like compound, inositol possesses significant glycemic control in support of healthier insulin sensitivity and blood sugar levels.

In certain clinical cases, taking high dosages of inositol may be recommended to combat more severe examples of, say, mood disorders or poor sperm quality. However, supplementing a reasonable daily amount for everyone, regardless of their health measures in these categories, isn’t a bad idea.

What Does the Research Say on Inositol?

As with any nutrient, information on inositol is all over the place.

However, for the most part, many of the studies on inositol for male health tend to focus on this pseudovitamin’s role in sperm quality and male fertility. 

There are other various studies on inositol’s role in combating depression and anxiety, as well as certain measures of glycemic control too.

All in all, compiled research suggests that inositol may:

Improve Sperm Quality in Men with Metabolic Syndrome

In a prospective longitudinal study on the effects of a dietary inositol supplement on impaired sperm motility associated with metabolic syndrome, a term for a group of risk factors involving general cardiometabolic issues, a group of researchers evaluated the semen characteristics, including hormone and metabolic profiles, of patients before and after taking an inositol-containing supplement.

The results demonstrated statistically significant improvements on the metabolic profile of these patients, including measures of insulin sensitivity, testosterone levels, sperm concentration, sperm motility, and sperm morphology.

• In the study’s conclusion, the use of inositol in conjunction with other vitamins and micronutrients was determined to “be an effective therapy for metabolic disorders, as well as hormonal and spermatic changes responsible for male infertility.” ^[1]

Change Sperm Parameters to Increase Male Fertility

In randomized controlled trials in a clinical setting, a group of researchers observed the effects of myo-inositol on the sperm parameters, including sperm motility and concentration, and fertility rate among patients with oligoasthenospermia. The results found a significant increase in sperm motility with myo-inositol, with an increase in male fertility that was about twice greater than those who did not receive myo-inositol.

• Per the study’s results, the researchers concluded that “the use of Myo-inositol is efficient enough to change sperm parameters to increase the chance of fertility.” ^[2]

Improve Depression Symptoms per the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

In a small study from 1995, the effects of a hefty dose of inositol (12 g), as compared to placebo, on patients diagnosed with depression were observed to determine inositol’s efficacy in combating symptoms of depression, as measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Though working with a small sample size (n = 28), the results demonstrated overall improvement in scores on the HDRS with inositol, as compared to placebo.

• The researchers concluded that this study “may be the first use of the precursor strategy for a second messenger rather than a neurotransmitter in treating depression.” ^[3] Although, it’s also important to note that, despite inositol’s significant benefits on depression, replication of the study is crucial to better verify these results.

Optimize Glycemic Control (Animal Research)

Using a rat model, this study observed the effects of inositol on muscle glucose uptake and intestinal glucose absorption in normal and type-2 diabetic rats. The researchers noted the inositol both inhibited intestinal glucose absorption and increased muscle glucose uptake while also delaying gastric emptying.

• Based on the results, the researchers concluded that “myo-inositol may be further investigated as a possible anti-hyperglycaemic dietary supplement for diabetic foods and food products.” ^[4] What this means is that inositol may potentially offer men greater glycemic control towards an overall improvement on fitness and metabolic performance.

Myo-Inositol vs. D-Chiro-Inositol: What’s the Difference?

Most research covered above pertains to myo-inositol, which is typically the specific stereoisomer we refer to when we talk about “inositol.” However, there is another form of inositol: D-chiro-inositol, which is essentially a chiral epimer of myo-inositol, meaning that myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol are structurally mirrored opposites, like your hands.

In a comparison study between myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol on women’s health, both were effective in improving female sexual health and metabolism, although myo-inositol demonstrated greater metabolic benefits. ^[14] On that note, for men, myo-inositol is also generally recommended for male health and fertility benefits.

Look for NutriGenesis® Inositol+

Worried about whether or not your inositol supplement is myo-inositol or D-chiro-inositol? Worry no more, because the best inositol supplement is NutriGenesis® Inositol+, a unique, patented brand of inositol complexed with natural cofactors, such as probiotics, enzymes, fibers, and antioxidants, to enhance absorption and bioavailability of this pseudovitamin compound.

As part of the total NutriGenesis® multivitamin package in Performance Lab® NutriGenesis® Multi for Men, NutriGenesis® Inositol+ is paired with more male-essential vitamins and minerals that support overall male health and function.

Check it:

Conclusion

For men, there are plenty reasons to supplement inositol.

Most notably to improve: 

• sexual health and function
• mental health
• skin health
• metabolic health

However, inositol isn’t the only micronutrient worth considering when it comes to maximizing your masculine power.

Packed in a comprehensive, easy-to-absorb multivitamin formula, Performance Lab® NutriGenesis® Multi for Men is the best daily multi you can take to set a sturdier nutritional foundation upon which to bolster your male power and performance.

Taken daily, NutriGenesis® Multi for Men may help ensure your inositol levels are up to par, in addition to all other vitamins and minerals essential to your health and metabolism.

Especially as micronutrient deficiencies become noticeable with age, Performance Lab® NutriGenesis® Multi for Men is a must-have supplement for men looking to maximize their manliness.