Effect of inositol on bulimia nervosa and binge eating

Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether inositol has therapeutic value in patients with bulimia nervosa and binge eating. Method: A double-b lind crossover trial using 18 g inositol versus placebo was performed in 12 patients for 6 weeks in each arm. Results: Inositol was significantly bett er than placebo on the Global Clinical Impression, the Visual Analogue Scal e, and the Eating Disorders Inventory. Discussion: Inositol is as therapeut ic in patients with bulimia nervosa and binge earing as it is in patients w ith depression and panic and obsessive-compulsive disorders. This increases its parallelism with serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors. (C) 2001 by John Wiley Sc Sons, Inc.