Trivial and chemical names (sweetness in relation

Occurrence

Uses and selected properties

to sucrose)
erythritol, 1,2,3,4-butanetetrol, meso-

Algae, grasses, lichens fungi, certain

Absorbed from the GI3 tract of white rat and

erythritol,tetrahydroxybutane (a tetritol) (up to

bacteria,human urine, fermented

chicken; is not a precursor of liver glycogen. Has

2.0)2

molasses, etc

been used (along with its tetranitrate) as a

vasodilator. Dental and physiologic significance

d-Arabotil, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5-pentanepentol, D-

Lichens, fungi, yeasts, mushrooms,

still inadequately known.

Poorly metabolized by mammals (low-caloric use);

arabinitol, D-lyxitol (a pentitol) (about 0.6)

plants, human body fluids (especially

excreted to a remarkable extent in the urine. Not

cerebrospinal fluid) and tissues

tested in long-term dental trials. L-arabitol (found

(brain)
Lichens, fungi, yeasts, higher plants,

in nature) may be sweteer.

A precursor of liver glycogen in rat and guinea pig;

human body fluids, honeydews of

enters the pentose phosphate pathway. Less

wax scale insects (Ceroplastes); as a

antiketogenic than xylitol; more slowly metabolized

constituent in certain

than xylitol.

Xylitol, xylo-pentane-1, 2, 3, 4, 5- pentol (a

lipopolysaccharides and riboflavin

Certain microorganisms, lower and

Slowly absorbed from the GI tract in man; a

pentitol) (1.0)

higher plants (at much lower levels

precursor of liver glycogen. Used in oral and

than sorbitol and D-mannitol), animal

intravenous nutrition and as sugar substitite for

tissues

diabetes and in anticaries preparations. Precusor of

Ribitol. Adonitol (a pentitol) (about 0.8)

liver

glycogen.

Extensively

used

in

food

manufacturing and other industries. In medicine as

a cathartic substance and in confectionaries as a low

 cariogenic bulk sweetener. Fermented by certain

d-mannitol , manna sugar (ahexitol) (0.45-0.6)

cariogenic bacteria.
Bacteria, algae, grasses, etc, including Absorbed more slowly than sorbitol and xylitol, a
higher plants.

precusor of liver glycogen.the laxative effect is

higher than with sorbitol and xylitol. Much of the
ingested mannitol appears unchanged in the urine.
Dental effects almost similar to those of sorbitol. A
natural diuretic , diagnostic aid (renal function), in

Galacticol, dulcitol (a hexitol) (0.4)

Algae , fungi, higher plants

Maltotriitol, a trisaccharide consisting of Dglucose and sorbitol (a-1.4- and a-1,6bonds( (0.7)
Maltotetraitol, a tetrasaccharide consisting of Dglucose and sorbitol (0,7)
Lycasin, a hydrogenated starch syrup, contains
sorbitol, maltitol, trimeric and higher homologues
(maltotetraitol, -pentaitol, -hexaitol, etc) (0,5)

Not found in nature

Malbit, a hydrogenated starch syrup containing

86-90% maltitol, some sorbitol, and higher
homologues (0.9)

An industrial product

Not found in nature

An industrial product

other medical tests.

Acts as a precursor of liver glycogen. Poorly
absorbed . because of low sweetness, has no been
subjected to extensive dental studies.
Forms glucose and sorbitol by intestinal enzymes.
Slowly fermented by dental plaque, inhibits
fermentation of cariogenic sugars.
Behaves almost like maltotriitol (both are weak
inhibitors of digestive amylases)
Composition may vary. The pancreatic amylase
forms oligisaccharides that are further hydrolyzed
by duodenal maltase. Hydrolysis of smallest
sorbitol- containing fragments proceeds slowly. A
bulk sweetener. Cariogenicity almost equal to that
of sorbitol
Reduced calorie content. Absorption, metabolism,
and dental effects almost similiar to those of
maltitol.

1. Only sugar alcohol that occur in nature or that have been used in human nutrition, or that may have potential of becoming nutraceuticals,
have been included. The theoritical number of tetrotols , pentitols, etc, is higher.
2. Sweetness is not constant parameter, but depends on chemical and physical nature of the food ingested, and on the concentration of the
carbohydrate involved. The values given represent those frequently reported in the literature.
3. Gastrointestinal tract