IP 6 is a naturally occurring substance found in grains, especially corn, and in legumes. It has several special qualities but perhaps the most dramatic effect of this remarkable substance is that of an anti-cancer agent. Inositol is the substance that regulates cell division. It has a modulation effect which means that although it has no effect on normal cells, it stops the reproduction of cells which are multiplying too fast, such as cancer cells. It also forces the cells to mature and differentiate.
Most cancer cells are immature, unspecialized cells that multiply indefinitely.
Inositol stops this. Actually, it is a phosphorylated Inositol that does the trick. Inositol Phosphate comes in six varieties from IP 1 to IP 6 . IP 3 is perhaps the most active in regulating cell division but the exact function of each IP is not known. Inositol is synergistic with IP 6 because as phosphates are stripped from the hexaphosphate they are taken up by Inositol, recycling the process.