Chemically it is an alcohol and a sugar, or a polyol. It can be produced synthetically through the
hydrogenation of invert sugar, monosaccharides & sucrose.
Mannitol is used to open the blood-brain barrier by temporarily shrinking the tightly coupled
endothelial cells that make up the barrier.
Large doses have resulted in fatalities. [American Medical Association, AMA Department of Drugs,
AMA Drug Evaluations. 3rd ed. Littleton, Massachusetts: PSG Publishing Co., Inc., 1977., p.
92]**PEER REVIEWED**