INOSITOL 6 G DAILY MAY BE EFFECTIVE IN DEPRESSION BUT NOT IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Inositol is an important precursor for second messenger synthesis and has been reported to be reduced by lithium treatment in rat brain and in human CSF in depression. An open trial of 6 g/day in 11 depressed p atients resistant to previous treatment led to major improvement in ni ne patients. The enzyme synthesizing inositol has been reported to be elevated in schizophrenia, suggesting an attempted compensation for po ssible inositol deficiency. A controlled double-blind crossover trial in 10 chronic schizophrenic patients of 6 g/day of inositol for 30 day s did not reveal any benefit.