Knowra Mannitol Mannitol Mannitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol used as a low-calorie sweetener, pharmaceutical ingredient, and osmotic diuretic. Its poor absorption and osmotic effects make it useful in foods and medicine.
Osmosis : The net movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane toward a region of higher solute concentration. Mannitol raises solute concentration in blood and kidney filtrate, drawing water along osmotic gradients.
Intracranial pressure : The pressure exerted by cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and brain tissue within the skull. Intravenous mannitol can temporarily lower dangerously elevated pressure by reducing brain water.
Mannose : A six-carbon sugar that occurs in plants and animals and is a component of some glycans. Mannitol can be produced by reducing mannose, changing its carbonyl group into an alcohol.
Hypertonic saline : A sodium chloride solution with a higher concentration than blood, used intravenously to shift water between body compartments. It is an alternative osmotic therapy for elevated intracranial pressure, with different electrolyte effects.
Osmotic diuresis : Increased urine production caused by a filtered solute that limits water reabsorption in the kidneys. Mannitol remains in kidney tubules and carries water into urine.
Acute kidney injury : A sudden decline in kidney function that disrupts waste removal and fluid and electrolyte balance. Mannitol has been used in kidney-related settings, but it does not reliably prevent or treat acute kidney injury.
Sorbitol : A six-carbon sugar alcohol used as a sweetener, humectant, and pharmaceutical ingredient. Sorbitol is a closely related sugar alcohol, but differs in stereochemistry and common uses.
Acetazolamide : A carbonic anhydrase inhibitor used to treat conditions including glaucoma, altitude sickness, and certain fluid-retention disorders. Unlike mannitol’s osmotic action, it changes kidney bicarbonate handling and can lower intraocular pressure.
Glomerular filtration : The passage of water and small solutes from blood into kidney nephrons across glomerular capillaries. The kidneys must filter mannitol for it to exert its diuretic effect.
Excipient : An inactive ingredient included in a drug product to aid its manufacture, stability, delivery, or use. Mannitol adds bulk and can improve taste or handling in tablets and other formulations.
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