Trip Answers

Question answered:05/05/08

We have found some information regarding the role of inositol regarding neural tube defects.  However, in issues relating to teratology the NLH Primary Care Q&A Service would strongly recommend GPs and health workers to contact the National Teratology Information Service (NTIS) for the very latest information on drug and chemical safety during pregnancy or breast feeding.  Their phone number is 0191 232 1525.  They are a dedicated service and have better and more up-to-date information resources at their disposal.

 

A 2002 article in the Journal of Medical Genetics includes a letter on inositol [1] and this reports:

 

"In conclusion, inositol has been taken during pregnancy without toxicity for mother or fetus, and with no anomalous uterine contractions. Given the strong preventive effect of inositol in mice, this normal pregnancy outcome, despite the high recurrence risk of NTD, indicates the need for further evaluation of inositol as an adjunct therapy to folic acid for preventing folate resistant NTD."

 

Since then we have found no human trials of inositol for the prevention of NTDs. 

 

Of the articles that we did find, we’ll report just the titles and conclusions below, as you will see there is no apparent consensus on the matter.  This lack of robust data makes our recommendation to contact NTIS even more important.

 

Title: Myo-inositol enhances teratogenicity of valproic acid in the mouse [2]
Conclusions: This work clearly indicates that INO enhances VPA-induced teratogenicity in the mouse

 

Title: Periconceptional dietary intake of myo-inositol and neural tube defects in offspring [3]
Conclusions:  Our results do not indicate that myo-inositol intake, as measured in this study, is strongly associated with risk of human NTDs.

 

Title: Spina bifida and genetic factors related to myo-inositol, glucose, and zinc [4]
Conclusions: The combination of maternal glucose < 4.5 mmol/L and ISYNA1 1029A > G polymorphism protects against spina bifida offspring. Moreover, maternal SLC5A11 544C > T polymorphism contributes to the serum myo-inositol concentration. Larger studies should confirm these findings.

 

Title: Maternal myo-inositol, glucose, and zinc status is associated with the risk of offspring with spina bifida [5]
Conclusions: Maternal myo-inositol, glucose, and zinc status are associated with the risk of spina bifida in offspring. Furthermore, the myo-inositol status of the child seems to contribute to this risk as well.

 

References

1) http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=1735032&blobtype=pdf
2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16511884
3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15744734
4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15172003
5) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14710103
 

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