D-chiro-inositol
Encyclopedia
D-chiro-Inositol is a member of a family of related substances often referred to collectively as "inositol
," although that term encompasses several isomer
s of questionable biological relevance. It is known to be an important secondary messenger in insulin
signal transduction
.
DCI is not abundant in most diets although it can be found in significant quantities in buckwheat
farinetta
, and some other foods. It is possible that in higher vertebrates DCI is made from myo-inositol via the action of an epimerase. Contrary to common claims of the non-availability of DCI, it is in fact commercially available to the public as a nutritional supplement in the US.
DCI appears to have substantial beneficial effects for PCOS, an observation rationalized by the apparent role of DCI in the etiology of PCOS. In double-blind studies, women with PCOS who received DCI experienced the following statistically significant benefits when compared with a control group: lowered free and total testosterone, lowered blood pressure, increased insulin sensitivity and a corresponding improvement in glucose disposal, and increased frequency of ovulation.
(particularly buckwheat farinetta), carob, and Cucurbita ficifolia
(fig leaf melon).
Inositol
Inositol or cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol is a chemical compound with formula 6126 or 6, a sixfold alcohol of cyclohexane. It exists in nine possible stereoisomers, of which the most prominent form, widely occurring in nature, is cis-1,2,3,5-trans-4,6-cyclohexanehexol, or myo-inositol...
," although that term encompasses several isomer
Isomer
In chemistry, isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulas. Isomers do not necessarily share similar properties, unless they also have the same functional groups. There are many different classes of isomers, like stereoisomers, enantiomers, geometrical...
s of questionable biological relevance. It is known to be an important secondary messenger in insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
signal transduction
Signal transduction
Signal transduction occurs when an extracellular signaling molecule activates a cell surface receptor. In turn, this receptor alters intracellular molecules creating a response...
.
DCI is not abundant in most diets although it can be found in significant quantities in buckwheat
Buckwheat
Buckwheat refers to a variety of plants in the dicot family Polygonaceae: the Eurasian genus Fagopyrum, the North American genus Eriogonum, and the Northern Hemisphere genus Fallopia. Either of the latter two may be referred to as "wild buckwheat"...
farinetta
Farinetta
Farinetta is type of buckwheat flour. The name is a registered trademark owned by Minn-Dak Growers, Ltd.Farinetta is made from a mixture of aleurone layer of hulled seed and seed embryo and contains about 35 % protein, as compared to about 12 % in the whole grain....
, and some other foods. It is possible that in higher vertebrates DCI is made from myo-inositol via the action of an epimerase. Contrary to common claims of the non-availability of DCI, it is in fact commercially available to the public as a nutritional supplement in the US.
DCI appears to have substantial beneficial effects for PCOS, an observation rationalized by the apparent role of DCI in the etiology of PCOS. In double-blind studies, women with PCOS who received DCI experienced the following statistically significant benefits when compared with a control group: lowered free and total testosterone, lowered blood pressure, increased insulin sensitivity and a corresponding improvement in glucose disposal, and increased frequency of ovulation.
Dietary sources
Significant dietary sources include; buckwheatBuckwheat
Buckwheat refers to a variety of plants in the dicot family Polygonaceae: the Eurasian genus Fagopyrum, the North American genus Eriogonum, and the Northern Hemisphere genus Fallopia. Either of the latter two may be referred to as "wild buckwheat"...
(particularly buckwheat farinetta), carob, and Cucurbita ficifolia
Cucurbita ficifolia
Cucurbita ficifolia is a type of squash grown for its edible seeds, fruit, and greens. Although it is closely related to other squashes in its genus, it shows considerable biochemical difference from them and does not hybridize readily with them....
(fig leaf melon).