Sorbitol is a type of sugar alcohol or polyol that is often used as a sweetener in food, beverages, and pharmaceutical products. Some of the advantages of using sorbitol include:
1. Sweet taste without high calorie content:
Sorbitol gives it a sweet, but not as voluminous taste as sucrose sugar. As a polyol, sorbitol has the ability to provide sweetness without adding a lot of calories to food or drinks.
2. Tolerance in Diabetics:
Sorbitol has a lower impact on blood sugar compared to sucrose or other sugars. Therefore, sorbitol can be a better alternative for diabetics because it can be digested slowly.
3. Water Retention Ability:
Sorbitol has the ability to attract and store water, so it can be used as a preservative or moisturizing agent in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products.
4. Dental Protective Effect:
Sorbitol does not cause tooth decay because it is not used by bacteria in the mouth to produce acid, which can damage tooth enamel.
5. Tolerance to the digestive system:
Sorbitol is well tolerated by most people. However, excessive consumption can cause side effects such as diarrhea in some individuals who are less tolerant to polyols.
6. Stability and Durability Properties:
Sorbitol has good durability properties, so it can be used as a sweetener and preservative in various food and beverage products.
Despite these advantages, keep in mind that excessive consumption of sorbitol can cause side effects such as indigestion, gas, and diarrhea in some people. Therefore, its use should remain within safe limits and in accordance with consumption guidelines provided by local health authorities.