What is "arabitol"

n. (context carbohydrate English) A sugar alcohol derived from the pentose arabinose

Arabitol or arabinitol is a sugar alcohol. It can be formed by the reduction of either arabinose or lyxose. Some organic acid tests check for the presence of D-arabitol, which may indicate overgrowth of intestinal microbes such as Candida albicans or other yeast/fungus species.