Myo-inositol is a naturally occurring substance which is gaining ground as a treatment for both metabolic and mental health conditions. Myo-inositol is sometimes referred to as Vitamin B8, however, it isn’t technically a vitamin at all. It’s actually classified as an isomer, or stereoisomer, because it appears in different forms, each of which function quite similarly, but have slight variations to their makeup. Myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol, another common form, are both isomers of inositol.
Myo-inositol is found in foods such as beans, fruits, grains and nuts. Our bodies derive some myo-inositol from these foods. The human body can also manufacture its own myo-inositol through carbohydrates in the diet. Myo-inositol occurs in the body as a form of sugar—a beneficial sugar. It plays a key role in the structure of our cells and acts as a chemical messenger allowing our bodies to function correctly—the way they were designed.