Sugar Alcohols as Sugar Substitutes in Food Industry

Abstract

Among nutritive sweeteners, there can be distinguished polyhydric alcohols (polyols), also known as sugar alcohols, because they are derived from simple carbohydrates, obtained by the substitution of the aldehyde group by the hydroxy one. They are natural sugar alternatives but are also referred to as semisynthetic sweeteners. There are many advantages of sugar alcohols, so they are becoming more and more popular among both consumers and producers. They are characterized by a lower caloric value and glycemic index than sugars and exhibit prebiotic and anticaries effects. All sugar alcohols can be used as bulking agents, which can substitute sugar or corn syrups 1:1 ratio. However, their sweetness varies from 25% to 100% as compared with sucrose, so they are usually combined with intense sweeteners or sugar in order to obtain the required flavor and level of sweetness. Additionally, they promote mouthfeel and eliminate improper taste. Therefore, they can be used as reduced-calorie sugar alternatives.