Inositol

The inflammatory process is mediated by the release of histamine, kinins and various other inflammatory mediators. Inflammation is a non-specific response to foreign invasion or tissue damage. The purpose of the inflammatory response is to remove debris, attack foreign invaders, remove cellular waste and encourage the healing process. Unfortunately, in chronic inflammation as seen in auto immune disorders, persisting inflammation leads to oxidative stress because of the overproduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species as well as the depletion of antioxidant molecules – this in turn increases the risk of cancer. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species promote DNA damage and genetic mutations, which promote the development of cancer. Chronic inflammation also leads to the release of growth factors that increase the susceptibility of mutations and the development of tumors. A classic example of this type of inflammation-induced carcinogenic activity is Ulcerative Colitis, a condition where the perpetual inflammation of the intestinal mucosa significantly increases the risk of colon cancer

A new study sponsored by the American Cancer Society and the National Institute of Health has demonstrated that the addition of inositol to the drinking water of mice affected with chronic long term Ulcerative Colitis significantly reduces colon cancer incidence from 70.6% to 42%. Tumor multiplicity decreased from 1.26 to 0.5 and tumor volume from 21.4 to 4.2 mm3. Other benefits included the reduction of oxidative stress and the inhibition of macrophage - (a type of white blood cell) mediated inflammation. The authors of the study concluded that inositol compounds “may serve as preventive agents for chronic inflammation-carcinogenesis”. Furthermore, the results strongly suggest that inositol is a potential candidate to prevent the development of colon cancer in Ulcerative Colitis patients.

Myo-Inositol is an essential component of cellular membranes and has numerous cellular roles. Myo-inositol and its metabolites regulate several cellular enzymes and cellular signals that regulate cellular proliferation, apoptosis, DNA repair and immunity - hence the crucial role of this molecule in carcinogenesis.