Inosine

What is Inosine?

Inosine is found in brewer’s yeast and organ meats. Inosine is a nucleoside, one of the basic compounds comprising cells. It is a small molecule that helps restore nerve function and is one of the few supplements shown to help re-grow nerve connections.

Inosine plays many important roles in living matter. It helps our bodies make adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a form of energy involved in muscle movement. This particular role is what led its proponents to suggest it could function as an energy boosting or endurance enhancing supplement.

A lot of research is still being carried on this ingredient. It is increasingly being used for the following conditions in some supplements:

• Inosine for MS - Following consumption of inosine, uric acid is produced. Uric acids as an antioxidant that may help suppress the free radical peroxynitrite. Peroxynitrite is believed to be involved in the onset and progression of nerve degeneration characteristic of MS.
• Inosine for Stroke - Research has clearly indicated that inosine aids neurons damaged during stroke to begin to re-grow nerve fibres in varying degrees. Inosine also stimulates neurons that were not damaged to branch out to replace those that were.
  

Based upon anecdotal reports by Russian and Eastern European athletes, inosine has been investigated for exercise-boosting effects. However, controlled studies have concluded that inosine does not improve athletic performance and may even impair it.

Side Effects and Warnings of Inosine

Although it has few or no side effects, inosine is broken down to the purine end-product, uric acid.  Because of this, inosine supplements should not be used in people with a history of gouty arthritis, hyperuricemia or purine autism unless being monitored by a physician.

Pregnant women and nursing mothers should also avoid its use. Everyone else should still seek medical advice from their doctor as the supplement has not been fully researched.

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