ribitol

Ribitol is a naturally occurring five-carbon sugar alcohol (pentose alcohol), also known as adonitol. It is formed by the reduction of ribose and occurs in some plants and Gram-positive bacteria as part of teichoic acids. Ribitol is a component of the structure of riboflavin and flavin mononucleotide. As an experimental therapy for certain muscular dystrophies—specifically those related to mutations in fukutin-related protein (FKRP)—ribitol acts as a pre-substrate for glycosyltransferase enzymes involved in the functional glycosylation of α-dystroglycan. Oral administration has been shown to restore matriglycan expression on α-dystroglycan in animal models with FKRP mutations and improve muscle pathology and function dose-dependently[4][6]. Ribitol has received orphan drug designation in Europe for this indication[7].

Other names

adonitolD-adonitolD-ribitolL-ribitol(2R,3s,4S)-pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol