Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (760 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A polyhydric alcohol with about half the sweetness of sucrose. Sorbitol occurs naturally and is also produced synthetically from glucose. It was formerly used as a diuretic and may still be used as a laxative and in irrigating solutions for some surgical procedures. It is also used in many manufacturing processes, as a pharmaceutical aid, and in several research applications.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Glucitol; klysma Sorbit; Medevac; Sorbilax; Yal.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Sugar Alcohols
- Narrower topics
- Isosorbide; Meglumine
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 17,758 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Sorbitol” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 1,097 of them (6.2%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 10,602 records.
Reviews account for 850 records (4.8%) and meta-analyses for 47. Randomized controlled trials number 1,414 (8.0%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 10,602 |
| 2000-2009 | 3,025 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,034 |
| 2020 onward | 1,097 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 850 | 4.8% |
| Meta-analyses | 47 | 0.3% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 1,414 | 8.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Sorbitol"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α is the therapeutic target of the SGLT2 inhibitor for diabetic nephropathy [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Previous studies have demonstrated intrarenal hypoxia in patients with diabetes.
- Closing excerpt
- The SGLT2 inhibitors may protect diabetic kidneys by therapeutically targeting HIF-1α protein.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (195 words)
Previous studies have demonstrated intrarenal hypoxia in patients with diabetes. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 plays an important role in hypoxia-induced tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Recent clinical trials have confirmed the renoprotective action of SGLT2 inhibitors in diabetic nephropathy. We explored the effects of an SGLT2 inhibitor, luseogliflozin on HIF-1α expression in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HRPTECs). Luseogliflozin significantly inhibited hypoxia-induced HIF-1α protein expression in HRPTECs. In addition, luseogliflozin inhibited hypoxia-induced the expression of the HIF-1α target genes PAI-1, VEGF, GLUT1, HK2 and PKM. Although luseogliflozin increased phosphorylated-AMP-activated protein kinase α (p-AMPKα) levels, the AMPK activator AICAR did not changed hypoxia-induced HIF-1α expression. Luseogliflozin suppressed the oxygen consumption rate in HRPTECs, and subsequently decreased hypoxia-sensitive dye, pimonidazole staining under hypoxia, suggesting that luseogliflozin promoted the degradation of HIF-1α protein by redistribution of intracellular oxygen. To confirm the inhibitory effect of luseogliflozin on hypoxia-induced HIF-1α protein in vivo, we treated male diabetic db/db mice with luseogliflozin for 8 to 16 weeks. Luseogliflozin attenuated cortical tubular HIF-1α expression, tubular injury and interstitial fibronectin in db/db mice. Together, luseogliflozin inhibits hypoxia-induced HIF-1α accumulation by suppressing mitochondrial oxygen consumption. The SGLT2 inhibitors may protect diabetic kidneys by therapeutically targeting HIF-1α protein.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 31611596 · DOI · PMC6791873
The SGLT2 Inhibitor Luseogliflozin Rapidly Normalizes Aortic mRNA Levels of Inflammation-Related but Not Lipid-Metabolism-Related Genes and Suppresses Atherosclerosis in Diabetic ApoE KO Mice [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Recent clinical studies have revealed the treatment of diabetic patients with sodium glucose co-transporter2 (SGLT2) inhibitors to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events.
- Closing excerpt
- Given that luseogliflozin normalized the aortic mRNA levels of inflammation-related, but not lipid-related, genes soon after the initiation of treatment, it is not unreasonable to speculate that the anti-atherosclerotic effect of this SGLT2 inhibitor emerges rapidly, possibly via the prevention of inflammation rather than of hyperlipidemia.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (268 words)
Recent clinical studies have revealed the treatment of diabetic patients with sodium glucose co-transporter2 (SGLT2) inhibitors to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events. Using nicotinamide and streptozotocin (NA/STZ) -treated ApoE KO mice, we investigated the effects of short-term (seven days) treatment with the SGLT2 inhibitor luseogliflozin on mRNA levels related to atherosclerosis in the aorta, as well as examining the long-term (six months) effects on atherosclerosis development. Eight-week-old ApoE KO mice were treated with NA/STZ to induce diabetes mellitus, and then divided into two groups, either untreated, or treated with luseogliflozin. Seven days after the initiation of luseogliflozin administration, atherosclerosis-related mRNA levels in the aorta were compared among four groups; i.e., wild type C57/BL6J, native ApoE KO, and NA/STZ-treated ApoE KO mice, with or without luseogliflozin. Short-term luseogliflozin treatment normalized the expression of inflammation-related genes such as F4/80, TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, ICAM-1, PECAM-1, MMP2 and MMP9 in the NA/STZ-treated ApoE KO mice, which showed marked elevations as compared with untreated ApoE KO mice. In contrast, lipid metabolism-related genes were generally unaffected by luseogliflozin treatment. Furthermore, after six-month treatment with luseogliflozin, in contrast to the severe and widely distributed atherosclerotic changes in the aortas of NA/STZ-treated ApoE KO mice, luseogliflozin treatment markedly attenuated the progression of atherosclerosis, without affecting serum lipid parameters such as high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels. Given that luseogliflozin normalized the aortic mRNA levels of inflammation-related, but not lipid-related, genes soon after the initiation of treatment, it is not unreasonable to speculate that the anti-atherosclerotic effect of this SGLT2 inhibitor emerges rapidly, possibly via the prevention of inflammation rather than of hyperlipidemia.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 28777298 · DOI · PMC5578094
An abscisic acid-responsive protein interaction network for sucrose non-fermenting related kinase1 in abiotic stress response [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Yeast Snf1 (Sucrose non-fermenting1), mammalian AMPK (5' AMP-activated protein kinase) and plant SnRK1 (Snf1-Related Kinase1) are conserved heterotrimeric kinase complexes that re-establish energy homeostasis following stress.
- Closing excerpt
- This targeted study uncovers the largest set of SnRK1 interactors, which can be used to further characterize SnRK1 role in plant survival under stress.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (150 words)
Yeast Snf1 (Sucrose non-fermenting1), mammalian AMPK (5' AMP-activated protein kinase) and plant SnRK1 (Snf1-Related Kinase1) are conserved heterotrimeric kinase complexes that re-establish energy homeostasis following stress. The hormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a crucial role in plant stress response. Activation of SnRK1 or ABA signaling results in overlapping transcriptional changes, suggesting these stress pathways share common targets. To investigate how SnRK1 and ABA interact during stress response in Arabidopsis thaliana, we screened the SnRK1 complex by yeast two-hybrid against a library of proteins encoded by 258 ABA-regulated genes. Here, we identify 125 SnRK1- interacting proteins (SnIPs). Network analysis indicates that a subset of SnIPs form signaling modules in response to abiotic stress. Functional studies show the involvement of SnRK1 and select SnIPs in abiotic stress responses. This targeted study uncovers the largest set of SnRK1 interactors, which can be used to further characterize SnRK1 role in plant survival under stress.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32218501 · DOI · PMC7099082
Designing Biobased Poly(ethylene-co-isosorbide terephthalate) Copolyesters with Tunable Properties and Degradability [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Production of high-performance polyesters with tailored degradability remains a challenge.
- Closing excerpt
- This outlines an attractive approach for developing high-performance copolyesters with tunable properties and degradation rates, suitable for applications in transparent thermal packaging materials.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (147 words)
Production of high-performance polyesters with tailored degradability remains a challenge. Here, a series of poly(ethylene-co-isosorbide terephthalate) (PEIT) copolyesters were synthesized by varying the isosorbide (IS) content (0-20 mol %) using tetrabutyl titanate (TBT) as the catalyst. By variation of the IS content, the thermal, mechanical, and optical properties of the copolyesters were effectively tailored. As the IS content increased, the Tg was raised from 80 to 101 °C, and the tensile strength from 58.8 to 68.7 MPa. Moreover, excellent transparency was maintained (up to 90% light transmittance). Interestingly, the susceptibility to hydrolytic degradation was significantly enhanced by the incorporation of IS, with PEIT-20 showing approximately 3.5 times higher weight loss compared to PET after 50 days of alkaline degradation in 0.1 M NaOH solution. This outlines an attractive approach for developing high-performance copolyesters with tunable properties and degradation rates, suitable for applications in transparent thermal packaging materials.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 40056101 · DOI · PMC12004518
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Sorbitol, phosphoinositides, and sodium-potassium-ATPase in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications [5]
- Research article The sorbitol pathway and the complications of diabetes [6]
- Research article The polyol pathway as a mechanism for diabetic retinopathy: attractive, elusive, and resilient [7]
- Research article Gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA). An overview [8]
- Research article Systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic and therapeutic role of water-soluble contrast agent in adhesive small bowel obstruction [9]
- Research article Cardiovascular effects of the 3 phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction [10]
References
- Bessho R, Takiyama Y, Takiyama T, Kitsunai H, Takeda Y, Sakagami H, et al.. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α is the therapeutic target of the SGLT2 inhibitor for diabetic nephropathy. . 2019. PMID 31611596 · DOI · PMC6791873
- Nakatsu Y, Kokubo H, Bumdelger B, Yoshizumi M, Yamamotoya T, Matsunaga Y, et al.. The SGLT2 Inhibitor Luseogliflozin Rapidly Normalizes Aortic mRNA Levels of Inflammation-Related but Not Lipid-Metabolism-Related Genes and Suppresses Atherosclerosis in Diabetic ApoE KO Mice. . 2017. PMID 28777298 · DOI · PMC5578094
- Carianopol CS, Chan AL, Dong S, Provart NJ, Lumba S, Gazzarrini S. An abscisic acid-responsive protein interaction network for sucrose non-fermenting related kinase1 in abiotic stress response. . 2020. PMID 32218501 · DOI · PMC7099082
- Li D, Li Y, Zhang Y, Xu Y, Zhang X, Hakkarainen M. Designing Biobased Poly(ethylene-co-isosorbide terephthalate) Copolyesters with Tunable Properties and Degradability. . 2025. PMID 40056101 · DOI · PMC12004518
- Greene DA, Lattimer SA, Sima AA. Sorbitol, phosphoinositides, and sodium-potassium-ATPase in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. N Engl J Med. 1987. PMID 3027558 · DOI
- Gabbay KH. The sorbitol pathway and the complications of diabetes. N Engl J Med. 1973. PMID 4266466 · DOI
- Lorenzi M. The polyol pathway as a mechanism for diabetic retinopathy: attractive, elusive, and resilient. Exp Diabetes Res. 2007. PMID 18224243 · DOI · PMC1950230
- Kirchin MA, Pirovano GP, Spinazzi A. Gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA). An overview. Invest Radiol. 1998. PMID 9818314 · DOI
- Branco BC, Barmparas G, Schnüriger B, Inaba K, Chan LS, Demetriades D. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic and therapeutic role of water-soluble contrast agent in adhesive small bowel obstruction. Br J Surg. 2010. PMID 20205228 · DOI
- Kloner RA. Cardiovascular effects of the 3 phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Circulation. 2004. PMID 15533876 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.