Typical dose
As a dietary supplement excipient or sweetener:...
Oral & topical
Oral safety: low
Skin safety: harmless
About this supplement
Mannitol (Crystalline) is a white, crystalline sugar alcohol (polyol) with the chemical formula C6H14O6. It is a stereoisomer of sorbitol and occurs naturally in small amounts in various plants, fungi, and algae. As a crystalline powder, it is odorless, has a sweet taste (about 50-70% the sweetness of sucrose), and is highly soluble in water. In supplements and beauty products, it serves as a low-calorie sweetener, bulking agent, excipient, stabilizer, and humectant. It is poorly absorbed in the small intestine, making it low in calories and often used in 'sugar-free' products. In pharmaceuticals, it is widely used as an osmotic diuretic to reduce intracranial and intraocular pressure and as a renal diagnostic agent.
How much to take
- Typical amount
- As a dietary supplement excipient or sweetener: variable, often 100mg to several grams per serving. As an osmotic diuretic (medical): 0.25-2 g/kg body weight via IV infusion.
- Suggested range
- Supplemental/excipient use: Not typically dosed therapeutically; follows GMP for product formulation. Medical diuretic use: 0.25-2 g/kg IV as directed by a physician.
Potential benefits
Benefits linked to this supplement form:
Things to watch for
Possible side effects linked to this form:
Health goals
Needs and goals this form may help with:
Other forms of Mannitol
Compare absorption and active amounts with sibling forms:
Technical details â–¼
Chemical ID (CAS)
69-65-8
Physical properties
White, odorless, crystalline powder or free-flowing granules. Sweet taste. Highly soluble in water (approx. 22 g/100 mL at 25°C), slightly soluble in ethanol. Hygroscopic. Melting point: 166-168°C.
How it’s made
Primarily produced industrially by the high-pressure hydrogenation of fructose/glucose syrups derived from starch (e.g., corn), using a nickel catalyst. Can also be extracted and purified from natural sources like seaweed (e.g., Laminaria species). The crystalline form is obtained through crystallization from solution.