Food supplement e 967. E967 - Xylitol

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Xylitol, or food additive E967, is an organic compound of polyhydric alcohol. It is used all over the world as a sugar substitute, emulsifier, stabilizer and humectant.

Xylitol properties

Outwardly, the substance looks like colorless crystals, they dissolve perfectly in water, alcohol, acetic acid and glycols. Xylitol is very close to sugar in its sweetness, but at the same time it is significantly less caloric. The energy value substances of only 9.6 kcal per 5 g. Also, xylitol has a reduced glycemic index, nutritionists recommend replacing sugar with it for all people suffering from diabetes and hyperglycemia. Xylitol is not only 40% less calories, but also 70% less carbohydrates. It forms fat very slowly and has minimal effect on insulin production. Therefore, it is suitable for all athletes and people who monitor their weight. It is absolutely safe for pregnant women and children of any age.

Xylitol is found naturally in many foods: it is obtained from the fiber of fruits, berries, vegetables, mushrooms, corn and even birch. The substance was first extracted in the 20th century in Finland from the bark of this tree, it instantly gained recognition and popularity in Europe, as it was a safe substitute for sugar. Today xylitol is extracted from corn, wood, seed husks by xylose reduction. Xylitol is produced even by the human body - up to 15 g daily. The largest manufacturer in the world is the Danish company Danisco.

Everyone knows that sugar is very bad for our teeth and causes tooth decay. It is he who creates an acidic environment in the oral cavity, which destroys the enamel of the teeth, washing out of it minerals. Xylitol does not form such an environment, since its molecules are not capable of fermentation... It restores the natural acid-base balance in the mouth and keeps teeth healthy. Beneficial features xylitol is important not only for teeth, but also for overall health:

  • Its antibacterial properties prevent the formation of caries, plaque and tartar;
  • Taking xylitol by nursing mothers reduces the number of streptococcus bacteria in children by 80%;
  • Xylitol strengthens tooth enamel and improves the protective properties of saliva;
  • Regular use of xylitol chewing gum can help fight ear infections. In the process of chewing, the withdrawal of earwax and cleaning of the middle ear are activated;
  • Fights brittle bones, increases their density and is the prevention of osteoporosis;
  • Xylitol is added to nasal sprays and medications to help reduce the development of asthma, allergies, and sinus infections.

Application of xylitol

The most widespread use of xylitol is found in food... It is used instead of sugar and is added to drinks, desserts and baked goods. Today, xylitol is found in many chewing gums, sweeteners, toothpastes and mouthwashes, lozenges, and nasal medications. It is also used in medicines for osteoporosis, diseases of the hearing organs, as well as the upper respiratory tract. Xylitol is absolutely non-toxic and has no contraindications. It is recommended to eat 50 g per day. Food supplement E967 is actively used in the preparation of desserts for patients with diabetes and overweight people.

For the prevention of caries, it is necessary to consume 6 g of xylitol per day. For diseases of the ears, nose or throat - 10 g. The substance must be taken regularly and over a long period of time, then a visible result will appear.

The use of xylitol has also been found in the chemical industry. It is used to make synthetic resins and surfactants.

Xylitol harm

Xylitol is practically safe and is recommended even for children. It is a registered dietary supplement and is used in many countries around the world. The harm of xylitol is minimal: like most sugar alcohols, it has a slight laxative effect. An overdose of the substance leads to bloating, diarrhea and flatulence. Same the harm of xylitol is that it increases the secretion of bile... With prolonged use, it can stimulate the formation of kidney stones.

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Food supplement xylitol (E967) is a natural sweetener. The substance is white crystals, odorless. Xylitol mixes well with aqueous and alcoholic solutions, acetic acid, and is insoluble in ethers.

Natural sources of xylitol are vegetables, fruits, berries, mushrooms, corn husks and birch bark. In industry, the substance is obtained from agricultural waste (corn husks and stumps, sunflower husks), or deciduous trees.

Application of xylitol

E967 is mainly used as a sweetener. IN dietary nutrition the substance plays the role of a sugar substitute. In the production of meat and sausages, the use of xylitol allows to increase the shelf life of the product and its yield, to form the texture and consistency. The additive is found in the composition confectionery, desserts, drinks, chewing gums.

The benefits and harms of supplements E967

Subject to the dosage - 50 grams per day and the absence of individual intolerance, the substance is absolutely safe for health. Overdose can cause flatulence, bloating, bowel upset, and kidney stones.

The substance has a lot of useful properties:

  • maintaining the balance of Ph. in the mouth;
  • protection of teeth from tartar and caries;
  • increased bone density;
  • indirect participation in the fight against ear infections;
  • has antibacterial properties;
  • makes it possible to replace sugar with a natural and harmless substance.

The use of xylitol is contraindicated in children under 3 years of age and persons suffering from gastrointestinal diseases.

Name: Xylitol, E967
Other names: Xylitol, E 967, E-967, Eng: E967, E-967, xylitol
Group: Food additive
Type: Sweetener, stabilizer, emulsifier
Effect on the body: safe but can be harmful
Allowed in countries: Russia, Ukraine, EU countries

Characteristic:
Xylitol is a polyhydric alcohol, optically inactive isomer. Food supplement E967 is a crystalline white powder with an almost imperceptible odor and a pronounced sweet taste, approximately equal in intensity to sugar. Leaves a characteristic chill on the tongue. The melting point of the substance ranges between 93C and 94.5C. Boiling of xylitol occurs at a temperature of 215C. The E 967 additive is quite resistant to heat and acids. It is highly soluble in water, has an average degree of solubility in ethyl, acetic acid, glycols, pyridine, and does not dissolve in fatty solvents. In nature, xylitol is found in fruits, vegetables, birch wood xylan, corn stalks, sunflower husks, cotton husks. The food additive E967 is obtained industrially, from agricultural waste by reducing xylose under pressure. Despite the fact that the caloric content of xylitol is comparable to that of sugar, and the sweetness is comparable to the sweetness of sucrose, the biological value of the substance is very low. Because of this, E967 supplement is a popular sugar substitute for diabetics and obese people, since it does not affect blood glucose levels.

Application:
In the food industry, xylitol is used in the manufacture of products with reduced calorie content and sugar-free. With the help of the food additive E967, they add sweetness to desserts based on dairy products, fruits and vegetables, cereals, eggs. Xylitol is added during the preparation of breakfast cereals, fruit ice, ice cream, marmalade, jam, jelly, glazed fruits, candies, caramel, chocolate. Also, the food additive E-967 can be used in the production of products from dried fruits, based on starch, muffins, flour confectionery products. The substance is also used in the manufacture of chewing gum, mustard, sauces, meat and sausage products, mayonnaise. Xylitol is used as a sweetener, stabilizer, humectant, emulsifier. In medicine, xylitol is included in injection solutions. In pharmaceuticals, it is widely used to create sweet chewable tablets, potions and syrups that are safe for people suffering from obesity and diabetes.

Effect on the human body:
A safe maximum daily dose of xylitol that will not cause harm has not been described. It is believed that the food supplement E967 is completely safe and insulin dependent. In addition, xylitol prevents tooth decay. It is known that excessive use of a sugar substitute (one time more than 20 g or 50 g during the day) leads to bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea.

The review will focus on food additives that, from a chemical point of view, are polyhydric alcohols (polyalcohols or polyols)... They are called differently sweet alcohols, saccharide alcohols, food polyols etc. We talked about one of the representatives of this group of food additives in the article. Here we will try to characterize the whole group food polyols.

Some general properties of food additives from the group of food polyols

TO food polyols(polyalcohol) include the following nutritional supplements: sorbitol (), xylitol (), mannitol (), maltitol (), lactitol (), erythritol (), isomalt(), as well as ( E422). Glycerol, trihydric alcohol, due to its distinction from the rest polyols was discussed earlier in another article, so we will not describe it here.

Origin of food polyols

Sugar alcohols ( food polyols) are substances common in nature. They have been found in many plants that humans eat and are natural nutrients for humans. For industrial purposes, they can be obtained from reducing monosaccharides... In particular, the restoration glucose leads to education sorbitol and recovery fructose- to simultaneous education sorbitol and mannitol... Various methods of artificial production have been developed. polyols.

Features of assimilation of food polyols

An important feature food polyols(saccharide alcohols) is their slow absorption by the human body (5-6 times slower than glucose). This is due to the mechanisms of assimilation, which are significantly different from the mechanisms of assimilation of conventional carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, sucrose, etc.) and do not require the body to release insulin.

Slowly absorbed in the intestines, polyols create a high osmotic pressure there, causing the flow and retention of fluid, which, in turn, causes the liquefaction of intestinal contents and increased peristalsis. Part polyols enters the large intestine, where it is fermented by microorganisms, which causes the release of gases. Therefore, in order to avoid a laxative effect or flatulence, the use of products containing polyols should be limited.

Food polyols as food additives

Sorbitol (E420 (i))

Origin:
Sorbitol is a hexahydric alcohol and occurs naturally in fruits (prunes, plums, peaches, ...). Sorbitol is named after the mountain ash, where it was first discovered and where it is found most. Also, a lot of sorbitol is found in the berries of blackthorn, hawthorn, cotoneaster. When the fruits ripen, the sorbitol content increases, and during storage it turns into fructose. In production, sorbitol is obtained by catalytic reduction of D-glucose; it is also an intermediate in the synthesis of ascorbic acid.

The various names of the food additive E420 (i):
sorbitol, sorbitol, glucite, D-sorbitol, D-glucitol, sorbol, D-glucitol, sorbit, D-sorbitol, sorbol.

C.A.S. number E420 (i): 50-70-4.

E420 (i) features:
filler, humectant, sequestrant, stabilizer, sweetener, thickener.

Properties of food additive E420 (i):
white hygroscopic powder, flakes or granules with a sweet taste and chill on the tongue; well soluble in water, hot ethanol; soluble in cold ethanol; insoluble in fatty solvents.

Chemical formula E420 (i):
C 6 H 14 O 6.

Sweetness E420 (i):
Compared to sucrose, sorbitol has a sweet taste intensity of 0.6.

Xylitol (E967)

Origin:
Xylitol belongs to pentahydric alcohols. Xylitol is found in birch sap, raspberries, strawberries, and other berries and fruits. Currently, xylitol is produced by hydrolysis from cotton husks or corn cobs. In Finland, xylitol is obtained from birch bark. The process consists of two stages - hydrolysis of raw polysaccharides to form xylose and reduction of the latter to xylitol.

The various names of the food additive E967:
xylitol, xylitol, xylitol.

C.A.S. number E967: 87-99-0.

E967 features:
emulsifier, humectant, stabilizer, sweetener, thickener.

Properties of food additive E967:
white crystals, odorless, readily soluble in water, causes a cooling sensation on the tongue.

Chemical formula E967:
C 5 H 12 O 5.

Sweetness E967:
Compared to sucrose, the intensity of its sweet taste is 0.85-1.2.

Mannitol (E421)

Origin:
Mannitol is a hexahydric alcohol found for the first time in the so-called manna, a lichen found in the steppes of southern countries. Semolina is also called the dried sap of some plants, which accumulates at the site of insect bites or cuts in the bark. There is especially a lot of manna on the branches of semolina and round-leaved ash. Camel thorns are also rich in manna. In industry, it is obtained from sea brown algae or by catalytic hydrogenation of sucrose. In this case, its inversion occurs with the formation of glucose and fructose, which are reduced to sorbitol and mannitol, respectively.

The various names of the food additive E421:
mannitol, D-mannitol, mannitol, mannite, D-Mannitol.

C.A.S. number E421: 69-65-8 .

E421 functions:
anti-caking agent, filler, humectant, stabilizer, sweetener, thickener.

Properties of food additive E421:
White, odorless, non-hygroscopic crystals with a sweet taste.

Chemical formula E421:
C 6 H 14 O 6.

Sweetness E421:
Compared to sucrose, the intensity of the sweet taste is 0.4-0.7.

Maltit (E965 (i))

Origin:
Maltitol is produced by hydrogenating maltose, which is obtained from starch. Like other polyols, it does not acquire Brown and does not caramelize like sugar.

The various names of the food additive E965 (i):
maltitol, maltitol, D-maltitol, hydrogenated maltose, maltitol, D-maltitol, hydrogenated maltose.

C.A.S. number E965 (i): 585-88-6 .

E965 (i) features:
filler, emulsifier, humectant, stabilizer, sweetener, thickener.

Properties of food additive E965 (i):
Flavourless white crystalline powder with sweet taste.

Chemical formula E965 (i):
C 12 H 24 O 11.

Sweetness E965 (i):
Compared to sucrose, the intensity of the sweet taste is 0.8 - 0.9.

Lactite (E966)

Origin:
made from milk sugar (lactose) obtained from whey.

The various names of the food additive E966:
lactitol, lactitol, hydrogenated lactose, lactit, lactitol.

C.A.S. number E966: 585-86-4 .

E966 features:
emulsifier, sweetener, thickener.

Properties of food additive E966:
a sweet-tasting crystalline powder or a colorless solution.

Chemical formula E966: C 12 H 24 O 11.

Sweetness E966:
Compared to sucrose, the intensity of the sweet taste is 0.3-0.5.

Isomalt (E953)

Origin:
A mixture of hydrogenated mono- and disaccharides, where the main components are two disaccharide alcohols - glucosomannitol and glucose sorbitol. The product is obtained by enzymatic conversion of sucrose followed by catalytic hydrogenation.

Various names for food additive E:
isomalt, isomaltitol, hydrogenated maltulose, isomalt, isomaltitol, hydrogenated isomaltulose.

C.A.S. number E953: 64519-82-0.

E953 features:
anti-caking agent, filler, glazing agent, stabilizer, sweetener, thickener.

Properties of food additive E953:
represents white crystals, odorless, resistant to temperature effects, does not lose its properties when boiled and baked; absorbs water in small quantities, which has a positive effect on the storage of products containing it; does not break down in food, does not dissolve in the mouth and does not have a “cooling” aftertaste, unlike other polyols.

Chemical formula E953:
(main components of the mixture) C 12 H 24 O 11 and C 12 H 24 O 11 2H 2 O.

Sweetness E953:
Compared to sucrose, the intensity of the sweet taste is 0.45-0.65.

Xylitol is a white crystalline substance, which is close to sugar in calorie content, and to sucrose in sweetness, but has no biological value.

Xylitol is naturally found in the fiber of many fruits and vegetables and can be extracted from various berries, oats and mushrooms, as well as from corn husks, sugar cane and birch bark.

Industrial production of xylitol takes place by processing hardwood or corn cobs, which are hydrolyzed in xylose and catalytically hydrogenated to xylitol. The largest xylitol producer in the world is China.

Xylitol was discovered almost simultaneously by German and French chemists in the late 19th century and became popular in Europe as a safe sweetener for people with diabetes.

Xylitol is a naturally occurring carbohydrate that looks and tastes like regular sugar. It is a natural sweetener that can be extracted from any fibrous plant material.

Xylitol is also found in the human body - the average adult produces up to 15 grams of xylitol per day with a normal metabolism.

Application of xylitol

In the food industry, xylitol is widely used as a dietary and diabetic sweetener. Also, xylitol is known as a food additive E967, which is a humectant, sweetener, stabilizer and emulsifier. It is added to the production of confectionery products for patients with diabetes and obesity.

In the chemical industry, xylitol is used in the production of synthetic resins, surfactants and esters.

Unlike other natural or synthetic sweeteners, xylitol is beneficial for dental health. It has the following properties: reduces caries and remineralizes teeth.

Early research in Finland in the 1970s found that compared to sucrose, xylitol use did not lead to oral problems or tooth loss. Caries-causing bacteria prefer six-carbon sugars or disaccharides, while xylitol does not ferment and cannot be used as an energy source to inhibit bacterial growth and reproduction. Harmful microorganisms starve in the presence of xylitol, which contributes to the remineralization of damaged teeth. This property also makes xylitol unsuitable for bread making, as it interferes with the yeast's ability to digest sugar.

With about 33% less calories than glucose, xylitol is a more dietary substitute for food sugar. Absorbed more slowly than sugar, it does not increase blood levels and does not lead to hyperglycemia. This characteristic has also proven useful for people with metabolic syndrome, a common medical condition that includes insulin resistance, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and an increased risk of blood clots.

Xylitol is used as a sweetener in medicines, chewing gums, and lozenges. Also, xylitol has a choleretic and laxative effect when consumed about 50 g per day.

Xylitol is effective in the treatment of acute middle ear infections. Research shows that chewing gums that contain xylitol can prevent acute otitis media. When bacteria enter the body, they adhere to tissues using various sucrose compounds. Chewing gum and swallowing saliva cleanse the middle ear, while the presence of xylitol prevents bacteria from growing in the auditory tubes that connect the nose and ears.

Also, saline solutions of xylitol significantly reduce the number of nasal coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteria, and nasal administration of xylitol is effective in asthma.

Xylitol properties

The molecular formula of xylitol is C5H12O5, molar mass - 152.15 g / mol, density - 1.52 g / cm³, melting point - 92–96 ° C, boiling point - 216 ° C, solubility in water - ~ 1.5 g / ml ...

Xylitol harm

Xylitol does not cause serious side effects... Like most sugar alcohols, it has a laxative effect because sugar alcohols do not completely break down during digestion. In cases of overdose, the harm of xylitol consists of bloating, flatulence and diarrhea.

Also, the harm of xylitol is manifested when it is used by dogs. Xylitol is a life-threatening toxin. It leads to low blood sugar levels in dogs and can lead to loss of coordination, depression, collapse, and seizures. Taking a dose of xylitol greater than 500-1000 mg / kg body weight results in liver failure in dogs, which can be fatal.