Sorbitol and myoinositol levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of diabetic patients.

Sorbitol and myoinositol have been measured from human cerebrospinal fluid. The normal concentrations are very small (below 100 microM/l). The detection limit of the Gas Liquid Chromatographic method was 5 microM/l. The sensitive method provided a possibility to compare quantitatively the sugar alcohol concentrations in human cerebrospinal fluid. Sorbitol concentration was increased and myoinositol concentration decreased in the cerebrospinal fluid of diabetic patients.