D-sorbitol
Sign in to saveSorbitol (), less commonly known as glucitol (), is a sugar alcohol with a sweet taste which the human body metabolizes slowly. It can be obtained by reduction of glucose, which changes the converted aldehyde group (−CHO) to a primary alcohol group (−CH2OH). Most sorbitol is made from potato starch, but it is also found in nature, for example in apples, pears, peaches, and prunes. It is converted to fructose by sorbitol-6-phosphate 2-dehydrogenase. Sorbitol is an isomer of mannitol, another sugar alcohol; the two differ only in the orientation of the hydroxyl group on carbon2. While similar, t
AI overview
D-sorbitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol with a sweet taste that the human body digests slowly, made industrially from potato starch but also found in fruits like apples and pears. It matters because it serves as a food ingredient and sweetener, and the body converts it into fructose through a specific metabolic process.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
14 sectionsContents
- Synthesis
- Uses
- Sweetener
- Medical applications
- Laxative
- Other medical applications
- Health care, food, and cosmetic uses
- Miscellaneous uses
- Medical importance
- Potential adverse effects
- Compendial status
- See also
- References
- External links
Sorbitol (), less commonly known as glucitol (), is a sugar alcohol with a sweet taste which the human body metabolizes slowly. It can be obtained by reduction of glucose, which changes the converted aldehyde group (−CHO) to a primary alcohol group (−CH2OH). Most sorbitol is made from potato starch, but it is also found in nature, for example in apples, pears, peaches, and prunes. It is converted to fructose by sorbitol-6-phosphate 2-dehydrogenase. Sorbitol is an isomer of mannitol, another sugar alcohol; the two differ only in the orientation of the hydroxyl group on carbon2. While similar, the two sugar alcohols have very different sources in nature, melting points, and uses.
As an over-the-counter drug, sorbitol is used as a laxative to treat constipation.