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Mannitol is a sugar alcohol that is used to test asthma, lower intracranial and intraocular pressure, measure glomerular filtration rate, and manage cystic fibrosis-related pulmonary symptoms.
- The chemical formula of mannitol is C6H14O6.
- It is used as both a sweetener and a medicine.
- It is used as a low-calorie sweetener since it is poorly absorbed in the intestines.
- It is used as a medicine to reduce eye pressure, such as in glaucoma, as well as to lower increased intracranial pressure.
- Medically, it is given by injection or inhalation.
- Common negative effects of medicinal usage include electrolyte imbalances and dehydration.
- Other major side effects might include increased heart failure and kidney problems.
- Mannitol belongs to the osmotic diuretic family of medications and acts by pulling fluid from the brain and eyes.
| Table of Contents |
Key Terms: Mannitol, Chemical formula, C6H14O6, Melting and Boiling point, Sweetener, Sorbitol, Molecular structure, Alcohol, Hydroxyl group, Molecular mass, Density
What is Mannitol?
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Mannitol is a simple, linear, six-carbon, and polyhydroxy sugar alcohol having the chemical formula C6H14O6.
- It is a diuretic and kidney diagnostic help that is similar to sorbitol. It is also known as D-mannitol, Osmitrol, or mannite.
- It is a natural alcohol found in fruits and vegetables.
- It is the most effective and safe medicine in the healthcare system
- It is included on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.
- It is a prescription medication used to lower high blood pressure in the brain.
- Also, because it is very little absorbed by the intestines, it is commonly used as a sweetener in diabetic food.
- It is commonly used in cell biology research to control osmolarity.
- It appears as crystalline solid white or free-flowing granules. It is odorless and has a sweet taste.
- It has a flashpoint of more than 300 °F. When degraded, it produces unpleasant smoke and odors.
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Mannitol Structure (C6H14O6 Structure)
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Mannitol is a sugar alcohol. Simply put, it is a sugar and alcohol or polyol. The chemical formula of Mannitol is C6H14O6.
- Structurally it closely resembles Sorbitol or Xylitol.
- The only difference between the Mannitol and Sorbitol lies in the orientation of the hydroxyl group on the second carbon atom of the molecule.
- However, mannitol tends to lose a hydrogen atom to become acidic in the aqueous solution, which in turn makes the solution acidic.
Structure of Mannitol
Properties of Mannitol
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The following are the properties of mannitol
| Mannitol | |
|---|---|
| Chemical Formula | C6H14O6 |
| Density | 1.489 at 68° F |
| Molecular Weight/ Molar Mass | 182.172 g/mol |
| Melting Point | 331 to 334° F |
| Boiling Point | 563° F at 3.5 mm Hg |
| Odour | odourless |
| Appearance | White crystalline or in granule form |
Actions of Mannitol
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Following are the Actions of Mannitol:
- Mannitol is a six-carbon polyhydroxy compound that is mildly and slowly metabolized by the human body.
- The renal tubule does not have many capabilities to absorb it either.
- Thus, it is excreted to kidneys very fast when mannitol injections are used and absorbed very poorly when administered orally.
- Mannitol can be used by diabetic patients as a sweetener, a substitute for sugar.
- The reason behind this is that mannitol, when taken orally, passes through the intestine and is later excreted as the small intestine is unable to absorb it properly.
- Thus, it does not affect the blood sugar level.
Uses of Mannitol
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The following are the uses of mannitol
- It is used to stimulate diuresis in acute renal failure.
- It is used to treat a high intracranial
- It is used to excrete harmful materials.
- It is used to sweeten diabetic food items.
- It is used to prevent intradialysis hypotension.
- It measures extracellular fluid (ECF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
- It is used for cardiopulmonary bypass.
Uses of Mannitol Injection
Mannitol can be administered as a subcutaneous injection. It is for fusion into a vein or urethra. It should be administered as per the recommendation of the health care professionals according to the severity of the disease or the need of the hour.
Harmful Effects of Mannitol
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The following are the harmful effects of mannitol
- Mannitol can cause dehydration upon overconsumption.
- It may cause heart failure.
- At a low temperature, it gets precipitated and can damage the vascular organ system.
- It may cause renal failure.
- It may cause pulmonary edema.
Production of Mannitol
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The processes of production of mannitol are given below
Industrial synthesis
Mannitol is produced via the hydrogenation of fructose which is either formed from sucrose or starch. A nickel catalyst is used in the hydrogenation process. Although starch is cheaper among the two production of mannitol from starch is complicated.
Biosynthesis
Mannitol is one of the most common and abundant molecules used for energy and carbon storage. It is produced by plenty of organisms such as yeast, bacteria, fungi, lichen, etc. Fermentation by the microorganism is one of the alternatives to the industrial production of mannitol.
Natural production
As mannitol is abundantly present in various naturally occurring products including almost all the plants it is directly extracted from those.
- There are several methods for the extraction of mannitol from natural sources.
- ‘Soxhlet extraction’, extraction using supercritical and subcritical fluids is also applied in the natural production of mannitol.
Things to Remember
- Mannitol is a simple, six-carbon, polyhydroxy sugar alcohol.
- It has a close resemblance to Sorbitol, another sugar alcohol.
- The chemical formula of Mannitol is C6H14O6.
- Mannitol appears as an odourless, white, crystalline, powdery substance or free-flowing granules.
- Mannitol can be used by diabetic patients as a sweetener.
- Mannitol can be used for the reduction of intracranial pressure, treatment of cerebral oedema, and increased intraocular pressure.
- Mannitol has some harmful effects when over-consumed or consumed without need.
- These harmful effects include dehydration, renal failure, oedema, damage to cardiovascular organs even heart failure.
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Sample Questions
Ques. What is the function of mannitol? (2 Marks)
Ans. Mannitol is a diuretic that can be applied within the eye or around the brain to reduce swelling and pain. Mannitol is also utilized to increase the body's urine production.
Ques. What is mannitol composed of? (2 Marks)
Ans. Mannitol, sometimes known as manna sugar, is a colorless, sweet alcohol. Manna, a plant-based sweetener, is named after the heavenly food that God prepared for the Israelites. Mannitol is a fructose and hydrogen compound that may also be manufactured chemically.
Ques. What happens after the Mannitol administration? (2 Marks)
Ans. The most often recorded adverse events during or after mannitol infusion (mannitol injection) include pulmonary swelling, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, acidosis, electrolyte loss, mouth dryness, weariness, significant diuresis, urine retention, oedema, and headache.
Ques. Does mannitol cause hypokalemia? (2 Marks)
Ans. Mannitol causes increased serum osmolality, osmotic water transport out of cells, and subsequent hyponatremia by dilution. Mannitol causes hypokalemic and hypochloremic alkalosis. Alkalosis is often linked with volume contraction and diuresis.
Ques. Is mannitol hypertonic or hypotonic? (2 Marks)
Ans. Mannitol, given as a hypertonic solution, is often used to treat cerebral edema and glaucoma. Although typically well-tolerated, a variety of fluid, electrolyte, and renal issues may arise if the patient is not constantly observed.
Ques. State some properties of mannitol. (3 Marks)
Ans. The properties of mannitol are:
- Mannitol appears as a white, crystalline, powdery substance or free-flowing granules.
- It is sweet in taste.
- Mannitol is odourless.
- The molecular weight of mannitol is 182.17.
- The melting and boiling points of mannitol are 563° F at 3.5 mm Hg and 333° F respectively.
Ques. What is Mannitol? (2 Marks)
Ans. Mannitol is a six-carbon sugar alcohol that is used as a diuretic i.e., it is used to increase urine production. Structurally, it has a close resemblance to Sorbitol. The chemical formula of mannitol is C6H14O6.
Ques. Why mannitol is a good substitute for sugar for diabetes patients? (2 Marks)
Ans. The reason behind using mannitol as a sweetener is that mannitol when taken orally, passes through the intestine and is later excreted as the small intestine is unable to absorb it properly. Thus, it does not affect the blood sugar level.
Ques. What are the processes of mannitol extraction? (2 Marks)
Ans. There are three major processes by which mannitol is extracted. The processes are Industrial production, Biosynthetic production, and Natural production. These are the processes which are responsible for the production of mannitol.
Ques. Write some major uses of Mannitol. (2 Marks)
Ans. Mannitol can be used in preventing intradialytic hypotension. Mannitol is one of the most common substances to be used in the circuit prime of a heart-lung machine during cardiopulmonary bypass. It is also used to measure Extracellular Fluid (ECF) and Glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
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