title: A meta-analysis of inositol for depression and anxiety disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study is a meta-analysis of inositol as a treatment for depression and anxiety disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, Cochrane Library database, and PsycINFO were searched up to 14 August 2013. A systematic review and meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted comparing inositol for depressed or anxiety disorder patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven RCTs in depression (two bipolar depression studies, one bipolar depression and major depressive disorder (MDD) study, two MDD studies, and two premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) studies) (n = 242) were identified. Four RCTs in anxiety disorders (two obsessive-compulsive disorder studies, one panic disorder study, and one posttraumatic stress disorder study) (n = 70) were also identified. There were no statistically significant effects of inositol on depressive, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms and discontinuation (all-cause, side effects, and worsening psychiatric symptoms). However, inositol had marginally more responders in depression than placebo (p = 0.06), and inositol showed a trend towards superior efficacy for depressive symptoms in patients with PMDD (p = 0.07). Inositol marginally caused gastrointestinal upset compared with placebo (p = 0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that inositol may be beneficial for depressed patients, especially those with PMDD. The main limitation of this report is that a small number of studies were included in this meta-analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mukai
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Nakao
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iwata
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D007294:Inositol
keywords: anxiety disorder; bipolar depression; inositol; major depressive disorder; meta-analysis; premenstrual dysphoric disorder