Sorbitol – The Sweetener With A Thousand Uses
Glucitol, or as it is better known, Sorbitol, is a sugar alcohol. Sugar alcohol is known to metabolize slowly in the human body. Sorbitol is not only a sugar substitute, as sorbitol is used as a humectant and thickener in many over the counter cosmetic products. Many transparent gels on the market contain sorbitol for its highly refractive index that is essential for many transparent formulations. Even cigarettes may contain sorbitol.
Sorbitol is made through the reduction of glucose. This reduction of the glucose changes the aldehyde group to an additional hydroxyl group. This is where sorbitol gets the moniker sugar alcohol.
It’s best not to consume too much sorbitol as ingesting large amounts may cause gas and abdominal pain. It could also cause severe diarrhea – and wants that? Those with irritable bowel syndrome should avoid sorbitol as it may aggravate the problem.
The human body produces sorbitol naturally in the cells of our bodies. It is suggested that diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy is caused by too much sorbitol production in the cells found in the nerves and eyes.
As a food and product sweetener, sorbitol can be found in products like cough syrups and of course many diet or low-calorie foods. On many nutrition labels, sorbitol is listed as an inactive ingredient.