Colorless and Odorless Sugar Sorbitol Sweetener

Sorbitol

Sorbitol also called glucitol, is a sugar alcohol with a sweet taste which the human body metabolizes slowly. It can be obtained by reduction of glucose, which changes the converted aldehyde group (−CHO) to a primary alcohol group (−CH2OH). Most sorbitol is made from potato starch, but it is also found in nature, for example in apples, pears, peaches, and prunes. It is converted to fructose by sorbitol-6-phosphate 2-dehydrogenase. 

Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol found in fruits and plants with diuretic, laxative and cathartic property. Unabsorbed sorbitol retains water in the large intestine through osmotic pressure thereby stimulating peristalsis of the intestine and exerting its diuretic, laxative and cathartic effect. In addition, sorbitol has one-third fewer calories and 60 % the sweetening activity of sucrose and is used as a sugar replacement in diabetes.

Bailong is the leading production enterprise of Fructo-Oligosachharide Powder 95% (FOS), Isomalto-Oligosaccharide Powder (IMO), Xylo-Oligosaccharide Powder and syrup (XOS), Polydextrose Powder and syrup, Resistant Dextrin Powder and syrup, Allulose Crystal and syrup and Galacto-Oligosaccharide Powder and syrup (GOS) in China. Those products can replace sugar and be applied in healthy food, functional beverages, baby food etc.

Benefits of Sorbitol

1. Sugar alcohols are often used in foods and beverages in place of traditional sugar to reduce their calorie content. 

Sorbitol contains approximately two-thirds of the calories of table sugar and provides about 60% of the sweetness. It’s also not fully digested in your small intestine. What remains of the compound from there moves into the large intestine where it’s instead fermented, or broken down by bacteria, resulting in fewer calories being absorbed.

2. The Sweetener is often added to foods marketed to people with diabetes. 

That’s because it has very little effect on blood sugar levels when eaten, compared with foods made with traditional sweeteners like table sugar.

3. Unlike table sugar, sugar alcohols like sorbitol don’t contribute to the formation of cavities. 

This is one reason why they’re often used to sweeten sugar-free chewing gum and liquid medications. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized that sugar alcohols like sorbitol may benefit oral health. This is based on a study that found that sorbitol may reduce cavity risk compared with table sugar, although not to the same extent as other sugar alcohols.

4. It’s used on its own as a laxative to combat constipation. 

It’s hyperosmotic, meaning it draws water into the colon from surrounding tissues to promote bowel movements. It can be purchased for this purpose at most grocery and drug stores without a prescription.

Application of Sorbitol

1. In Food
Sorbitol can be used as sweetener, humectant in food such as in confectionery, bakery foods, frozen dessert, biscuit, cake, sugar-coat and chocolate.

2. In Beverage
Sorbitol can be used as sweetener, humectant in beverage such as fruit juice and diet soda.

3. In Pharmaceutical
Sorbitol is used in bacterial culture media to distinguish the pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 from most other strains of E. coli, .

4. In Health and Personal care
Sorbitol  is used in a wide range of products including aftershave lotions, baby shampoos and hair grooming aids in cosmetics and personal care products. Sorbitol is used in cosmetics and personal care products as a flavoring agent, and to prevent moisture loss.

5. In Agriculture/Animal Feed
Sorbitol can be used in Agriculture/Animal Feed/poultry feed.

Sorbitol analysis