SORBITOL

Chemical name: 1,2,3,4,5-hexanehoxol

Molecular formula: C₆ H₁₄ O₁₆

Relative Mass: 182.17

Sorbitol is classified as sugar alcohol and has been a commercial product for more than sixty years. It is a natural carbohydrate found in many grained and non-grained fruits such as apples, prunes, cherries and grapes.

Today it is used in foods, confectionery, oral care, pharmacology and industrial applications due to its unique physical and chemical properties.

Properties of Sorbitol

Sorbitol is hygroscopic. Under varying humidity conditions, it can give and take moisture quite slowly.

Sorbitol provides improved moisture control and is highly prone to maintaining moisture balance in its environment.

This slow change in moisture content protects food products using sorbitol. This ensures that the product maintains its quality characteristics and extends its shelf life.

Sorbitol is highly soluble in water and slightly soluble in ethanol.

The Importance of Sorbitol for Health

Sorbitol, which is not affected by insulin and does not increase blood sugar index, is widely used in formulations of products produced for diabetics.

Sorbitol has a lasting effect to accelerate intestinal effects. Sorbitol is the most commonly used sugar alcohol for sweetening purposes.

Since the duration of metabolization of sorbitol by oral microorganisms is very long compared to sucrose and fructose, the pH of the plaque does not decrease so there is no risk of caries forming products flavored with sorbitol.

Food Industry

It has been used as a sweetener in diabetic foods since the 1920s, since sorbitol is metabolized in the body and is determined to have little increase in blood glucose.

Sorbitol, which has application areas such as sweeteners and moisture scavengers, is a good additive for chewing gums and acts as a moisture scavenger and sweetener in these products.

Sorbitol, which is also used as an aromatic substance, does not decompose. It is used in confectionery because of its viscous and moisturizing properties and its ability to increase the absorption of vitamins B12, B1 and C.

The stabilizer is a low calorie sweetener and bulking agent. It is used in many bakery products and confectionery products, sauces, soups.

Pharmacy

It acts as an excipient and also finds application in toothpaste, gum, cough lozenges, raw materials and glycerin as a substitute for vitamin C in the pharmaceutical industry.

It is involved in Cosmetic and Tobacco Products formulations.

Sorbitol solution, which has also been used in the production of polyethers, provides a feeling of freshness in the mouth as it has endothermic dissolution enthalpy. It shows laxative effect on excessive consumption.

Drug Use

Moisturizing, plasticizing; sweetener; tablet and capsule filler.

Sorbitol is mostly used as an excipient in the pharmaceutical industry.

Due to its sweetening properties, it does not contain sugar, vitamins in antacid suspension products, syrup formulations are basically crystallization stopper.

Production Methods of Sorbitol

Catalytic hydrogenation,
Electrocatalytic hydrogenation,
Enzymatic production is done in 3 categories.

Sorbitol can be consumed by all religious groups, vegans and vegetarians. The definition of carbohydrate alcohol is a chemical definition; sorbitol does not contain alcohol (ethanol).

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