Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (586 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
An isomer of glucose that has traditionally been considered to be a B vitamin although it has an uncertain status as a vitamin and a deficiency syndrome has not been identified in man. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p1379) Inositol phospholipids are important in signal transduction.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Chiro-Inositol; Chiro Inositol; Mesoinositol; Myoinositol.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Sugar Alcohols
- Narrower topics
- Inositol Phosphates
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 25,540 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Inositol” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 2,426 of them (9.5%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 14,095 records.
Reviews account for 1,859 records (7.3%) and meta-analyses for 92. Randomized controlled trials number 399 (1.6%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 14,095 |
| 2000-2009 | 5,197 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,822 |
| 2020 onward | 2,426 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 1,859 | 7.3% |
| Meta-analyses | 92 | 0.4% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 399 | 1.6% |
Method: PubMed query "Inositol"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inositol pyrophosphates promote the interaction of SPX domains with the coiled-coil motif of PHR transcription factors to regulate plant phosphate homeostasis | 2021 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 195 | cc by PMID 33452263 · DOI · PMC7810988 |
| Conversion of dietary inositol into propionate and acetate by commensal Anaerostipes associates with host health | 2021 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 180 | cc by PMID 34376656 · DOI · PMC8355322 |
| Role of Inositols and Inositol Phosphates in Energy Metabolism | 2020 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 129 | cc by PMID 33139672 · DOI · PMC7663797 |
| Protein pyrophosphorylation by inositol pyrophosphates - detection, function, and regulation | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 7 | cc by PMID 41329512 · DOI · PMC13573051 |
Inositol pyrophosphates promote the interaction of SPX domains with the coiled-coil motif of PHR transcription factors to regulate plant phosphate homeostasis [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Phosphorus is an essential nutrient taken up by organisms in the form of inorganic phosphate (Pi).
- Closing excerpt
- Together, our findings suggest that InsP8 regulates plant Pi homeostasis by controlling the oligomeric state and hence the promoter binding capability of PHRs via their SPX receptors.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (172 words)
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient taken up by organisms in the form of inorganic phosphate (Pi). Eukaryotes have evolved sophisticated Pi sensing and signaling cascades, enabling them to stably maintain cellular Pi concentrations. Pi homeostasis is regulated by inositol pyrophosphate signaling molecules (PP-InsPs), which are sensed by SPX domain-containing proteins. In plants, PP-InsP-bound SPX receptors inactivate Myb coiled-coil (MYB-CC) Pi starvation response transcription factors (PHRs) by an unknown mechanism. Here we report that a InsP8-SPX complex targets the plant-unique CC domain of PHRs. Crystal structures of the CC domain reveal an unusual four-stranded anti-parallel arrangement. Interface mutations in the CC domain yield monomeric PHR1, which is no longer able to bind DNA with high affinity. Mutation of conserved basic residues located at the surface of the CC domain disrupt interaction with the SPX receptor in vitro and in planta, resulting in constitutive Pi starvation responses. Together, our findings suggest that InsP8 regulates plant Pi homeostasis by controlling the oligomeric state and hence the promoter binding capability of PHRs via their SPX receptors.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 33452263 · DOI · PMC7810988
Conversion of dietary inositol into propionate and acetate by commensal Anaerostipes associates with host health [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- We describe the anaerobic conversion of inositol stereoisomers to propionate and acetate by the abundant intestinal genus Anaerostipes.
- Closing excerpt
- in promoting host health.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (140 words)
We describe the anaerobic conversion of inositol stereoisomers to propionate and acetate by the abundant intestinal genus Anaerostipes. A inositol pathway was elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance using [13C]-inositols, mass spectrometry and proteogenomic analyses in A. rhamnosivorans, identifying 3-oxoacid CoA transferase as a key enzyme involved in both 3-oxopropionyl-CoA and propionate formation. This pathway also allowed conversion of phytate-derived inositol into propionate as shown with [13C]-phytate in fecal samples amended with A. rhamnosivorans. Metabolic and (meta)genomic analyses explained the adaptation of Anaerostipes spp. to inositol-containing substrates and identified a propionate-production gene cluster to be inversely associated with metabolic biomarkers in (pre)diabetes cohorts. Co-administration of myo-inositol with live A. rhamnosivorans in western-diet fed mice reduced fasting-glucose levels comparing to heat-killed A. rhamnosivorans after 6-weeks treatment. Altogether, these data suggest a potential beneficial role for intestinal Anaerostipes spp. in promoting host health.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 34376656 · DOI · PMC8355322
Role of Inositols and Inositol Phosphates in Energy Metabolism [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Recently, inositols, especially myo-inositol and inositol hexakisphosphate, also known as phytic acid or IP6, with their biological activities received much attention for their role in multiple health beneficial effects.
- Closing excerpt
- Despite all recent advances, many aspects of the bioactivity of inositol phosphates are still not clear, especially their effects on insulin resistance and alteration of metabolism, so more research is needed.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (163 words)
Recently, inositols, especially myo-inositol and inositol hexakisphosphate, also known as phytic acid or IP6, with their biological activities received much attention for their role in multiple health beneficial effects. Although their roles in cancer treatment and prevention have been extensively reported, interestingly, they may also have distinctive properties in energy metabolism and metabolic disorders. We review inositols and inositol phosphate metabolism in mammalian cells to establish their biological activities and highlight their potential roles in energy metabolism. These molecules are known to decrease insulin resistance, increase insulin sensitivity, and have diverse properties with importance from cell signaling to metabolism. Evidence showed that inositol phosphates might enhance the browning of white adipocytes and directly improve insulin sensitivity through adipocytes. In addition, inositol pyrophosphates containing high-energy phosphate bonds are considered in increasing cellular energetics. Despite all recent advances, many aspects of the bioactivity of inositol phosphates are still not clear, especially their effects on insulin resistance and alteration of metabolism, so more research is needed.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 33139672 · DOI · PMC7663797
Protein pyrophosphorylation by inositol pyrophosphates - detection, function, and regulation [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Protein pyrophosphorylation is an emerging, unusual posttranslational modification.
- Closing excerpt
- Finally, the future needs for this developing area of signal transduction research are highlighted.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (111 words)
Protein pyrophosphorylation is an emerging, unusual posttranslational modification. This signaling mechanism can be driven by inositol pyrophosphate messengers, which can convert a prephosphorylated protein to the corresponding pyrophosphoprotein. Endogenous protein pyrophosphorylation influences various cellular processes and signaling pathways, including the regulation of rRNA synthesis and the modulation of vesicular trafficking. Herein, we will summarize the current detection and analysis methods that have established the occurrence of pyrophosphorylation. These methods have also been used to explore the effects of pyrophosphorylation on protein structure and function. Putative mechanisms for the regulation of this intriguing, understudied modification will be discussed. Finally, the future needs for this developing area of signal transduction research are highlighted.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41329512 · DOI · PMC13573051
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) is a reliable blocker of store-operated Ca2+ entry but an inconsistent inhibitor of InsP3-induced Ca2+ release [5]
- Research article The Inositol Trisphosphate/Calcium Signaling Pathway in Health and Disease [6]
- Research article Back in the water: the return of the inositol phosphates [7]
- Research article Phytate in foods and significance for humans: food sources, intake, processing, bioavailability, protective role and analysis [8]
- Research article Potential role and therapeutic interests of myo-inositol in metabolic diseases [9]
- Research article Inositol derivatives: evolution and functions [10]
References
- Ried MK, Wild R, Zhu J, Pipercevic J, Sturm K, Broger L, et al.. Inositol pyrophosphates promote the interaction of SPX domains with the coiled-coil motif of PHR transcription factors to regulate plant phosphate homeostasis. . 2021. PMID 33452263 · DOI · PMC7810988
- Bui TPN, Mannerås-Holm L, Puschmann R, Wu H, Troise AD, Nijsse B, et al.. Conversion of dietary inositol into propionate and acetate by commensal Anaerostipes associates with host health. . 2021. PMID 34376656 · DOI · PMC8355322
- Chatree S, Thongmaen N, Tantivejkul K, Sitticharoon C, Vucenik I. Role of Inositols and Inositol Phosphates in Energy Metabolism. . 2020. PMID 33139672 · DOI · PMC7663797
- Lampe S, Mohanty TK, Bhandari R, Fiedler D. Protein pyrophosphorylation by inositol pyrophosphates - detection, function, and regulation. . 2026. PMID 41329512 · DOI · PMC13573051
- Bootman MD, Collins TJ, Mackenzie L, Roderick HL, Berridge MJ, Peppiatt CM. 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) is a reliable blocker of store-operated Ca2+ entry but an inconsistent inhibitor of InsP3-induced Ca2+ release. FASEB J. 2002. PMID 12153982 · DOI
- Berridge MJ. The Inositol Trisphosphate/Calcium Signaling Pathway in Health and Disease. Physiol Rev. 2016. PMID 27512009 · DOI
- Irvine RF, Schell MJ. Back in the water: the return of the inositol phosphates. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2001. PMID 11331907 · DOI
- Schlemmer U, Frølich W, Prieto RM, Grases F. Phytate in foods and significance for humans: food sources, intake, processing, bioavailability, protective role and analysis. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2009. PMID 19774556 · DOI
- Croze ML, Soulage CO. Potential role and therapeutic interests of myo-inositol in metabolic diseases. Biochimie. 2013. PMID 23764390 · DOI
- Michell RH. Inositol derivatives: evolution and functions. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2008. PMID 18216771 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.