Evidence mapPaperPMID 41163174Full record

ReviewDiabetology & metabolic syndrome2025

Inositol supplementation efficacy in improving key cardiometabolic and anthropometric indices: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Mouloud Agajani Delavar, Parvaneh Mirabi, Sara K Rosenkranz, Fatemeh Alibabaei-Omran, Niloufar Ahmadi, Zeinab Ghorbani

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Diabetology & metabolic syndrome, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Carob (Nutrients · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Mouloud Agajani Delavar *Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Parvaneh Mirabi *Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Sara K RosenkranzDepartment of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA.
Fatemeh Alibabaei-OmranInfertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Niloufar AhmadiInfertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Zeinab GhorbaniDepartment of Clinical Nutrition, School of MedicineGuilan University of Medical Sciences, Parastar St., Rasht, 41937 - 1311, Iran. z.ghorbani.h@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInositol and its derivatives may help mitigate risks associated with cardiovascular diseases; however, existing evidence remains inconsistent.

objectivesThe primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs was to quantify the effects of inositol and its stereoisomers on anthropometric, and cardiometabolic measures.

methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs was conducted to clarify this. Searches in PubMed and Scopus, along with hand-searching references, identified RCTs on inositol supplementation lasting ≥ 4-week. Using random-effects models, the analysis determined mean effect sizes as weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% CIs. Heterogeneity was assessed via the Cochrane Chi-squared test and Galbraith plots, while the ROBI tool evaluated bias risk. The strength of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE framework.

resultsEighteen RCTs (n = 898) were totally included in this meta-analysis. Significant reductions in BMI (WMD (95%CIs):-0.57 kg/m²(-1.10, -0.03), I²=88.6), waist-to-hip ratio(WMD (95%CI):-0.02(-0.04, -0.001), I²=84.1), and waist circumference (WMD (95%CI):-2.36 cm(-4.39, -0.33) I²=55.0) were noted with high heterogeneity and low to very low certainty evidence. Inositol significantly decreased glucose levels (WMD (95%CI):-7.25 mg/dL(-10.98, -3.52), I²=90.7), insulin (WMD (95%CI):-4.74µU/mL(-6.16, -3.32), I²=90.6) and HOMA-IR (WMD (95%CI):-1.21(-1.58, -0.85), I²=85.0), both with moderate evidence certainty and high heterogeneity. Notable reductions in triglycerides (WMD (95%CI):-29.80 mg/dL(-48.16, -11.44), I²=96.0) and total-cholesterol (WMD (95%CI):-18.26 mg/dL(-30.75, -5.77), I² = 95.8) were observed, with high and low evidence certainty, respectively, and high heterogeneity. LDL-C and HDL-C improved with moderate certainty (WMDs (95%CIs):-5.15 mg/dL(-8.89, -1.42), I²= 0.0; and 2.76 mg/dL(1.16, 4.36), I²=52.9). Additionally, inositol significantly lowered systolic (WMD (95%CI):-5.34mmHg(-6.91, -3.78), I²=38.0) and diastolic blood pressure (WMD (95%CI):-6.12mmHg(-8.44, -3.80), I²=69.7) with low, and very low evidence certainty.

conclusionOverall, inositol may offer modest cardiometabolic benefits, with moderate-to-high certainty for improvements in insulin resistance and lipid profiles. However, existing studies show a high risk of bias and low certainty of evidence, particularly for anthropometric outcomes, creating cautious interpretation. Future research should involve large-scale, rigorous trials with standardized protocols, longer follow-up, and diverse populations.

Indexed as

Diabetes mellitusDyslipidemiaHyperglycemiaHypertensionMyo-inositolObesity

Identifiers

PMID41163174
PMCPMC12574088

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.