Potential Anxiolytic Effects of Selected Inositol Stereoisomers-A Narrative Review
Abstract
Background: Anxiety is a frequent clinical problem that becomes disabling when excessive or persistent. Cyclitols are naturally occurring polyhydroxy compounds, and inositols are the most abundant cyclitols in eukaryotic cells; several stereoisomers have been proposed as candidates for CNS-relevant effects.
Methods: A narrative review was conducted using a structured search of biomedical bibliographic databases. The search was centered on myo-inositol, scyllo-inositol, and D-chiro-inositol in relation to anxiety-related outcomes.
Results: The retrieved literature suggests some biological plausibility for anxiolytic effects of selected inositol stereoisomers through pathways related to intracellular signaling and neurotransmission. However, the available evidence is uneven and remains limited. The most informative findings concern myo-inositol and include both preclinical and clinical studies, whereas data on scyllo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol are scarce, particularly in relation to anxiety-related outcomes.
Conclusions: Current evidence suggests a possible anxiolytic role of selected inositol stereoisomers; however, the existing data are limited and heterogeneous, and do not allow for definitive clinical conclusions. Further research is required.
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