Lactitol
This sugar alcohol that is poorly absorbed from the gut is used as a laxative for constipation and, at higher doses, to treat a serious complication of liver disease called hepatic encephalopathy by reducing ammonia-producing bacteria in the colon. Gut bacteria ferment it to produce acids that trap ammonia and promote bowel movements.
Molecular Weight
344.3100 g/mol
LogP
-5.20
TPSA
201.00 Ų
Lipinski RO5
Fail
Therapeutic Areas
Mechanism of Action
Increases water content in the intestinal lumen through osmotic or stimulant mechanisms, promoting bowel motility and facilitating defecation.
Pharmacokinetics (PK)
Pharmacodynamics (PD)
Increases water content in the intestinal lumen through osmotic or stimulant mechanisms, promoting bowel motility and facilitating defecation.
2D Structure
Cite this structure
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SMILES
OC[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O[C@@H]1O[C@H](CO)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H]1O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)CO
InChI
InChI=1S/C12H24O11/c13-1-4(16)7(18)11(5(17)2-14)23-12-10(21)9(20)8(19)6(3-15)22-12/h4-21H,1-3H2/t4-,5+,6+,7+,8-,9-,10+,11+,12-/m0/s1
Molecular Formula
C12H24O11
HBD / HBA
9 / 11
Rotatable Bonds
8
Heavy Atoms
23
No targets recorded
Target interaction data is not yet available for this drug.
No interactions recorded
Drug interaction data is not yet available for this compound.
No side effects recorded
Side effect data is not yet available for this drug.
Frequently Asked Questions
This sugar alcohol that is poorly absorbed from the gut is used as a laxative for constipation and, at higher doses, to treat a serious complication of liver disease called hepatic encephalopathy by reducing ammonia-producing bacteria in the colon. Gut bacteria ferment it to produce acids that trap ammonia and promote bowel movements.
Increases water content in the intestinal lumen through osmotic or stimulant mechanisms, promoting bowel motility and facilitating defecation.
Yes, Lactitol is an approved drug. It has reached clinical phase 4. It is classified as a Small molecule.
References & Data Sources
- ChEMBL — European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI). CHEMBL1661. Open-access bioactivity database.
- PubChem — National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). CID 157355. Chemical information database.
Data aggregated from publicly available pharmacological databases. Last updated 2026-03-04.
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