**12. Acknowledgements**

434 Recent Trends for Enhancing the Diversity and Quality of Soybean Products

Inositol is synthesized sparingly in the body but is present in many foods. The inositols are essential nutrients for plants (Loewus and Murthy, 2000) and animals (Holub, 1986). Concentrations of the inositols and their metabolites can be much higher in some plant species than in mammalian tissue. For example, in soybeans, the concentration of pinitol alone approaches 30 mg/g (Streeter & Strimbu 1998; Garland *et al*., 2009) whereas in human blood, the levels of free *myo*-inositol is 3000 times lower (1 mg/100 mL). Levels of pinitol in blood is not widely known, but are anticipated to be orders of magnitude less than *myo*-

One form of inositol, inositol hexaniacinate, has been used to support circulatory health because it functions like niacin in the body. The major dietary forms of myo-inositol are inositol hexaphosphate or phytic acid, which is widely found in cereals and legumes and associated with dietary fiber, and myo-inositol-containing phospholipids from animal and

Inositol is involved in the glucuronic acid and pentose phosphate pathways. Inositol exists as the fiber component phytic acid, which has been investigated for its anti-cancer properties. Inositol is primarily used in the treatment of liver problems, depression, panic disorder, and diabetes (Narayanan, 1987). Used with choline, it also aids in the breakdown of fats, helps in the reduction of blood cholesterol, and helps to prevent thinning hair (Walker, 2010). It promotes the export of fat from the liver. Inositol is required for the proper function of several brain neurotransmitters. Inositol may improve nerve conduction velocities in diabetics with peripheral neuropathy. Inositol may help protect against atherosclerosis and hair loss. There has also been the suggestion that it may help to reverse some nerve damage caused by diabetes (Gregersen et al. 1978; *Ibid*,1983). Inositol has also been tried for other psychological and nerve-related conditions including the treatment of side effects of the medicine lithium. Inositol also has a prominent calming effect on the central nervous system, so it is sometimes helpful to those with insomnia. Inositol may also be involved in

Under pinitol deficiency, detrimental health conditions may exist such as higher blood sugar in diabetics (Geethan and Prince, 2008). Myo-inositol deficiency can lead to depression and other mental disorders (Levine et al, 1995; Benjamin et al, 1995; Fux, et al, 1996). Also, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been reported to be related to a deficiency in dietary inositol (Gerli, et al. 2003; Ibid, 2007). Correlations with depression and similar disorders may be related to the abundance of inositol phospholipids in brain and other nervous system tissues. However, the relationship between pinitol and blood sugar levels is more likely correlated with the similarities in structure between the 0-

There is no recommended daily allowance for inositol, but the normal human dietary intake is about 1 gram per day. Inositol is available from both plant and animal sources. Natural sources of inositol include soybeans, wheat germ, brewer's yeast, bananas, liver, brown rice, oak flakes, nuts, unrefined molasses, vegetables, and raisins. Most dietary inositol is in the

Dietary effects of pinitol and ononitol are still in the earlier stages of discovery. It has recently been shown that pinitol lowers blood glucose levels in type II diabetics while significantly decreasing total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and the LDL/HDL-cholesterol ratio (Kim et al 2005). The dietary benefits or hazards of the other metabolites of isomers of

inositol.

plant sources.

depression.

methyl inositol and glucose.

form of phytate, a naturally occurring plant fiber.

inositol (other than myo-inositol) are under active investigation.

We acknowledge Shaun Garland and Luther McDonald for their technical support.
