What is the Difference Between Mannitol and D-Mannitol?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Mannitol and D-mannitol are both sugar alcohols, but they differ in their enantiomeric forms and abundance. The key differences between mannitol and D-mannitol are:
- Mannitol: It is a sugar alcohol that serves as both a sweetener and a medication. Mannitol is poorly absorbed by the intestines, making it a low-calorie sweetener. As a medication, it is used to decrease pressure in the eyes, as in glaucoma, and to lower increased intracranial pressure.
- D-Mannitol: It is the D enantiomer of mannitol and is the most abundant and useful form of mannitol. D-mannitol also has a role as an osmotic diuretic, a sweetening agent, an antiglaucoma drug, a metabolite, and an allergen.
In summary, mannitol is a sugar alcohol with both sweetener and medicinal properties, while D-mannitol is the most abundant and useful enantiomer of mannitol, serving similar roles as a sweetener and medication.
Comparative Table: Mannitol vs D-Mannitol
The main difference between mannitol and D-mannitol is that mannitol is a type of sugar alcohol useful as a sweetener and as a medication, while D-mannitol is the D enantiomer of mannitol, which is the most abundant and useful form of mannitol. Here is a table summarizing the differences between mannitol and D-mannitol:
| Feature | Mannitol | D-Mannitol |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Mannitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener and medication. | D-mannitol is the D enantiomer of mannitol. |
| Enantiomers | Mannitol has two major enantiomer forms: L-mannitol and D-mannitol. | D-mannitol is the most abundant isomer of mannitol. |
| Hydroxyl Group Orientation | Mannitol and sorbitol are isomers, differing only in the orientation of the hydroxyl group on carbon 2. | The same. |
| Production | Mannitol can be produced via the hydrogenation of fructose or extracted from natural sources like seaweed. | The same. |
| Uses | Mannitol is useful as a low-calorie sweetener and as an osmotic diuretic in medical settings. | D-mannitol is the most abundant and useful form of mannitol, with similar uses. |
| Properties | Mannitol has a role as an osmotic diuretic, antiglaucoma drug, metabolite, and allergen. | The same, but D-mannitol is more abundant. |
In summary, mannitol is a sugar alcohol with two enantiomers, L-mannitol and D-mannitol. D-mannitol is the most abundant and useful form of mannitol, sharing many of the same properties and uses as mannitol itself.
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