Mannitol Powder
It’s So Much More Than a Simple Sweetener
Sugar substitutes are an excellent option for people looking to cut calories. Not all sugar substitutes are created equal, though. One sweetener that stands above the rest is mannitol powder. This sweetener is a type of sugar alcohol that can be used as a low-calorie sweetener or even as a medication.
What is Mannitol Powder?
Mannitol is a polyol (sugar alcohol), a low-calorie sweetener with only 1.6 calories per gram. Mannitol naturally occurs in high levels in a range of fruit and vegetables. Mannitol is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Mannitol, also known as manna sugar, is a colorless, sweet sugar alcohol. A sweetener produced by plants, its name is derived from the word manna, which was the bread from heaven that God provided for the Israelites. Mannitol is made from fructose and hydrogen and can also be produced artificially.
The powder is commonly used when making candy as well as pharmaceutical medications. Mannitol can be found in chocolate coatings, gum, and medication tablets. It’s a popular alternative because the sweetener only contains approximately 1.6 calories per gram as compared to 4 calories per gram in regular sugar. Plus, it’s known for having a cooling effect that helps mask bitter flavors.
Mannitol has also been approved by the FDA for use in diuretics, as well as for people with sugar intolerances, such as diabetics. The intestines cannot absorb mannitol as easily as regular sugar, so it causes less of a blood sugar spike than glucose. Mannitol powder has proven to be an effective sugar substitute, but researchers have found even more uses for this sweetener.
In 2013, researchers found that mannitol may be effective for easing Parkinson’s symptoms caused by alpha-synuclein proteins. Mannitol has been shown to benefit Parkinson’s patients by preventing the toxic clustering of alpha-synuclein proteins. In patient-reported data from the CliniCrowd platform, 56 percent of participants who took mannitol consistently for six months reported improvements in their Parkinson’s symptoms. In the article below, you can find more information about the benefits of Mannitol Powder for Parkinson’s.
Why Choose Mannitol Balance?
Mannitol Balance powder is USP grade, meaning it meets the requirements of the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) and comes in the form of a fine white powder. While other players in the mannitol powder market are only food grade and made in China, Mannitol Balance is composed of raw materials directly from a farm on the outskirts of France. There, they host a third-party GMP-certified facility where their natural sweetener is produced under stringent standards to achieve top quality.
This way, consumers won’t get a product chock-full of unnatural additives and preservatives, as well as unsafe control procedures in some cases. The third-party, GMP-certified facility used to produce Mannitol Balance is reflective of only the finest standards, ensuring that each container meets pharmaceutical grade quality (E.P., USP, CHP, J.P.).
Benefits of Mannitol
Mannitol is a member of the sugar alcohol family and offers a few key advantages. The benefits posed by Mannitol primarily concern kidney health, blood sugar maintenance, and even brain swelling. When patients start to experience acute kidney failure, this is what doctors tend to prescribe. Mannitol has a way of forcing urine production through the removal of excess water and toxins inside the body. By triggering urine production, the kidneys are kept from failure since harmful waste is being expelled at a faster rate. As for its assistance with blood sugar regulation – since the body doesn’t completely absorb the sugar alcohol within Mannitol, blood glucose and insulin levels are effectively reduced. Vascular resistance also lowers, as a result, making for looser muscles and improved blood flow throughout the body.
Functional Advantages
Mannitol doesn’t absorb moisture like sorbitol does, which is why it’s often used as dusting powder on chewing gum to prevent it from sticking to wrappers or manufacturing equipment. It’s also an ingredient in chocolate and as a layered coating agent for ice cream. Thanks to its high melting point, it doesn’t discolor at high temperatures, making it an ideal ingredient in pharmaceuticals and nutritional tablets.
Kidney/Urinary Health
Doctors tend to recommend Mannitol to those who are experiencing acute kidney failure. This is because Mannitol is an effective diuretic which forces urine production by removing excess water and toxins from the body. Increased urine production keeps the kidneys from shutting down while speeding up the expulsion of harmful toxins within the body. Mannitol also flaunts benefits to blood vessels within the kidneys. This serves to reduce vascular resistance, keep muscles relaxed, and ultimately enhance organ blood flow.
Protects Against Tooth Decay
Mannitol is also an effective polyol, a class of organic compounds that prevent tooth decay. Unlike other sugar alcohols, Mannitol is resistant to metabolism by oral bacteria, which breaks down sugars and starches. This releases acids that lead to painful cavities or enamel erosion.The oral benefits to mannitol use and other sugar alcohols is recognized by a large number of medical associations across the world.
Low Calories
Like other polyols, Mannitol is only partially absorbed from the small intestine – meaning that only a portion of it reaches the large intestine. This results in a lower calorie yield, with each gram only containing 1.6 calories, less than half the calorie value of sucrose (4 kcal/g). This trait makes Mannitol quite useful in the production of sweet but sugar-free products.
Useful for People with Diabetes
Since Mannitol isn’t fully absorbed upon consumption, it actually reduces spikes in blood glucose and insulin levels which typically follow glucose ingestion.This, combined with its low-calorie nature, makes Mannitol a viable alternative sweetener for diabetic patients. Products sweetened with Mannitol rather than sugar have grown to provide diabetes with a longer list of low-calorie, sugar-free alternatives.It’s suggested that people with diabetes discuss the use of polyols with their G.P. or diabetes specialist before turning to Mannitol as a sweetener substitute. Some foods and beverages that are sweetened with Mannitol may contain other undesirable ingredients for a given diet.
How to Use Mannitol Powder
You have several options for using Mannitol powder. For example, many consumers skip the granulated and powdered baking sugars for all-natural sugar alcohol and adding it to their coffee, tea, and smoothies. Additionally, they’re even using it to make their favorite dessert recipes. However, if you’re using it for Parkinson’s after reading the studies or watching the documentary mentioned below, you’ll need to look at the dosing information a little closer.
Mannitol and Parkinson’s Disease Dosing Information
Mannitol is a powerful supplement that has helped many people with Parkinson’s disease. But, it affects each person differently, and no two individuals will suffer from the same symptoms or be affected by the treatment in the same way. So, each individual must find their ideal balance when it comes to making an effective plan.
A study involving a mice model used the following dosing schedule based on weight:
Body Weight (lbs ) |
Dose per day (gram/Oz) |
77-90lbs |
~5g /0.17 oz per day |
91-109lbs |
~6g/0.21oz per day |
110-121lbs |
~7g/0.24 oz per day |
122-139lbs |
~8g/0.28oz per day |
140-153lbs |
~9g/0.31oz per day |
154-185lbs |
~10g.0.35 oz per day |
186-210lbs |
~12g/0.42 oz per day |
211-251lbs |
~15g/0.52 oz per day |
252-300lbs |
~17g/0.60 oz per day |
301-319lbs |
~19g/0.67 oz per day |
320+ Lbs |
~20g/ o.70 oz per day. Above 20g per day, it may have a laxative effect |
It is important to try and listen to your body in a way that is most suitable for you. Everyone is different. In some cases, people split the Mannitol dosage for morning and evening. There is no trend as to which way is better or more effective for Parkinson’s. Opinions are divided on this matter. Some take it alongside other medications, while others prefer it separately.
****Disclaimer: Mannitol Balance does not provide medical advice. For medical advice, please consult your doctor.***
Is Mannitol Balance Safe?
Yes! Mannitol Balance has a USP standard. The pharmaceutical regulations tend to be more restrictive due to the need for stability and safety.Mannitol Balance is a safe alternative to other dietary sugars in an FDA-registered facility using the highest quality of fruits and vegetables from local farms in France. When you purchase Mannitol Balance, you’re guaranteed a product that’s:
- USP Standard
- GMO-Free
- Low-Calorie
- GMP Practices
- Low-GI
In addition, all batches go through third-party laboratory testing. Another advantage of the alternative to granulated sugars is certified safe by the FDA.
Side Effects of Mannitol
The only known adverse reaction people have to Mannitol is when they exceed 20mg in a day. The alcohol sugar can cause an unpleasant laxative effect. The most common side effect is bloating, which is rare for anyone using less than 20mg daily. However, none of the serving size suggestions for Parkinson’s go over 17g per day. Additionally, when you break up the doses over 12 hours each, you’re less likely to experience stomach discomfort.
Mannitol for Parkinson’s
A 2013 study confirmed two things: Mannitol helped Parkinson’s Disease in fruit flies and mice. It reduced Alpha-Synuclein levels by 70% in the fruit fly test tube, which is what causes Parkinson’s disease. The mouse model also showed similar results—it reduced protein levels of Alpha-Synuclein and protected dopamine-producing neurons. Additionally, Mannitol offered preventive and protective properties, which are also beneficial to people with Parkinson’s.
Mannitol can go into the brain. This potential benefit is vital for people with Parkinson’s disease because medicines must enter the brain to reach their damaged dopaminergic neurons.
Clinical studies are on the horizon. More promising results are available from patients about adding a daily dose of Mannitol to their routine. On July 29, 2020, a medical documentary was shining more light on Mannitol nearly a year ago. “My Disease Our Revolution” is an inspiring story of how Daniel Vesely, a 63-year old Parkinson’s patient in Israel who had experienced decreased symptoms while taking Mannitol and set out to advocate for more research into the supplement.
In an interview with Parkinson’s News Today, the 2013 study’s researcher explained why more data is possible about the benefits of Mannitol powder for people with neurodegenerative brain disorder.
“Our studies have not allowed us to examine whether Mannitol interacts directly — covalently or with other types of hydrogen bonds
, for example — with alpha-synuclein. Nowadays, we do have such techniques that would allow us to try to figure out, in more detail, what is the mechanism of action of Mannitol.”
What are the Other Benefits of Mannitol Powder for Parkinson’s?
While the studies are still in progress for its ability to deliver medication to the damaged areas of the brain or protect against further damage, there are other side advantages for individuals with Parkinson’s. The most common include the potential to improve coordination and balance and improve sleep quality.
CliniCrowd has nearly 2,000 participating Parkinson’s patients from 54 different countries tracking that are taking Mannitol. More than 75 have been using it for over six months. The promising research found 56% of the long-time participants reported improvements in symptoms. The most exciting statistic reported by CliniCrowd was 90% of the long-time users regained their sense of smell after six months of use.
Additionally, over 60% reported no increases or decrease in symptoms, which is significant with any degenerative condition. Another promising find was fatigue. Over 30% saw improvement in chronic tiredness. Also, 31% noticed improvements in their arm-swing movements.
These studies by CliniCrowd aren’t clinical research. Instead, the company hopes to use this data to get approval for clinical studies for Parkinson’s and Mannitol. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 Pandemic has made this process challenging and will extend the duration of all clinical testing.
Where Can I Buy Mannitol Powder?
We’re committed to your health and wellness. You can purchase Mannitol on our Website or through Amazon. Both sites offer subscribe and save options to help reduce your monthly cost.
**This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.**