Sorbitol

China Product


Uses

Sweetener

Sorbitol is a sugar substitute. It may be listed under the inactive ingredients listed for some foods and products. Sorbitol is referred to as a nutritive sweetener because it provides dietary energy: 2.6 kilocalories (11 kilojoules) per gram versus the average 4 kilocalories (17 kilojoules) for carbohydrates. It often is used in diet foods (including diet drinks and ice cream), mints, cough syrups, and sugar-free chewing gum. ground venison

It also occurs naturally in many stone fruits and berries from trees of the genus Sorbus. popcorn popper

Laxative pure cocoa powder

Sorbitol can be used as a non-stimulant laxative via an oral suspension or enema. It works by drawing water into the large intestine, thereby stimulating bowel movements. Sorbitol has been determined safe for use by the elderly, although it is not recommended without consultation with a clinician.

Medical applications

Sorbitol is used in bacterial culture media to distinguish Escherichia coli 0154:H7 from most other strains of E. coli[citation needed].

Sorbitol, combined with kayexalate, helps the body rid itself of excess potassium ions in a hyperkalaemic state. The kayexalate exchanges sodium ions for potassium ions in the bowel, while sorbitol helps to eliminate it.

Health care, food, and cosmetic uses

Sorbitol often is used in modern cosmetics as a humectant and thickener[citation needed]. Sorbitol often is used in mouthwash and toothpaste. Some transparent gels can be made only with sorbitol, as it has a refractive index sufficiently high for transparent formulations.

Sorbitol is used as a cryoprotectant additive (mixed with sucrose and sodium polyphosphates) in the manufacture of surimi, a highly refined fish paste most commonly produced from Alaska (or walleye) pollock (Theragra chalcogramma).[citation needed] It is also used as a humectant in some cigarettes.

Sorbital sometimes is used as a sweetener and humectant in cookies and other foods that are not identified as "dietary" items.

Medical importance

Even in the absence of dietary sorbitol, cells produce sorbitol naturally.

Too much sorbitol trapped in eye and nerve cells can damage these cells, leading to retinopathy and neuropathy. Substances that prevent or slow the action of aldose reductase are being studied as a way to prevent or delay these complications of diabetes. Aldose reductase is the first enzyme in the sorbitol pathway. This pathway is responsible for the conversion of glucose to sorbitol, and of galactose to galactitol. Under conditions of hyperglycemia, sorbitol accumulation occurs. Aldose reductase inhibitors prevent the accumulation of intracellular sorbitol.. Sensitivity to the substance may result in severe pain among individuals who are intolerant of it and exhibit adverse symptoms from sorbitol.

Diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy may be related to excess sorbitol in the cells of the eyes and nerves. The source of this sorbitol in diabetics is excess glucose, which goes through the sorbitol-aldose reductase pathway.

In some human enzyme deficiencies such as galactosemia, sorbitol excess arises and can cause damage to the body. In diabetes mellitus, enzyme deficiency in the lens of the eye may cause sorbitol accumulation and cataracts[citation needed].

Adverse medical effects

Sorbitol also may aggravate irritable bowel syndrome, and similar gastrointestinal conditions, resulting in severe abdominal pain for those affected, even from small amounts ingested.

Overdose effects

Ingesting large amounts of sorbitol can lead to abdominal pain, gas, and mild to severe diarrhea.[citation needed] Sorbitol ingestion of 20 grams (0.7 oz) per day as sugar-free gum has led to severe diarrhea leading to unintended weight loss of 11 kilograms (24 lb) in a woman originally weighing 52 kilograms (110 lb); another patient required hospitalization after habitually consuming 30 grams (1 oz) per day.

Compendial status

Food Chemical Codex

European Pharmacopoeia 6.1

British Pharmacopoeia 2009

Japanese Pharmacopoeia 15[citation needed]

Miscellaneous uses

A mixture of sorbitol and potassium nitrate has found some success as an amateur solid rocket fuel.

Sorbitol is identified as a potential key chemical intermediate from biomass resources. Complete reduction of sorbitol opens the way to alkanes such as hexane which can be used as a biofuel. Sorbitol itself provides much of the hydrogen required for the transformation.

19 C6H14O6 13 C6H14 + 36 CO2 + 42 H2O

The above chemical reaction is exothermic; 1.5 mole of sorbitol generates approximately 1 mole of hexane. When hydrogen is co-fed, no carbon dioxide is produced.

See also

Mannitol

Mouthwash

Xylitol

External links

NIH Diabetes dictionary see entry on sorbitol

Notes and references

^ Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, Nelson and Cox, Fourth Edition

^ ACS :: Cancer Drug Guide: sorbitol

^ Lederle FA: Epidemiology of constipation in elderly patients. Drug utilization and cost-containment strategies. Drugs and Ageing 6:465-469, 1995.

^ Rugolotto S, Gruber M, Solano PD, Chini L, Gobbo S, Pecori S (April 2007). "Necrotizing enterocolitis in a 850 gram infant receiving sorbitol-free sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate): clinical and histopathologic findings". J Perinatol 27 (4): 2479. doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7211677. PMID 17377608. 

^ Gallaher Group Plc - Ingredients

^ Sorbitol: a hazard for diabetics? Nutrition Health Review

^ Normalizing mitochondrial superoxide production blocks three pathways of hyperglycaemic damage.

^ Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Causes and Treatment - What can aggravate my symptoms?

^ Kathleen Doheny (2008-01-10). "Sweetener Side Effects: Case Histories". WebMD Medical News. http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20080110/sweetener-side-effects-case-histories. Retrieved 2008-01-10. 

^ The United States Pharmacopeial Convention. "Revisions to FCC, First Supplement". http://www.usp.org/fcc/FCC61SBallotResultsWebPostingReport04.html. Retrieved 6 July 2009. 

^ Sigma Aldrich. "D-Sorbitol". http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/ProductDetail.do?lang=en&N4=97336. Retrieved 6 July 2009. 

^ European Pharmacopoeia. "Index, Ph Eur". https://www.edqm.eu/store/images/majbdd/200709201618250.6_1%20IndexE.pdf. Retrieved 6 July 2009. 

^ British Pharmacopoeia (2009). "Index, BP 2009". http://www.pharmacopoeia.co.uk/pdf/2009_index.pdf. Retrieved 6 July 2009. 

^ Richard Nakka's Experimental Rocketry Web Site

^ Production of Liquid Hydrocarbons from Biomass Jrgen O. Metzger Angewandte Chemie International Edition Volume 45, Issue 5 , Pages 696 - 698 2005 link to the publisher

v  d  e

Laxatives and cathartics (A06)

Softeners, emollients

Paraffin  Docusate sodium

Contact laxatives

Oxyphenisatine  Bisacodyl  Dantron  Phenolphthalein  Castor oil  Senna glycosides  Cascara  Sodium picosulfate  Bisoxatin

Bulk producers

Ispaghula  Ethulose  Sterculia  Linseed  Methylcellulose  Triticum  Polycarbophil calcium

Osmotically acting laxatives

Magnesium carbonate  Magnesium oxide  Magnesium peroxide  Magnesium sulfate  Lactulose  Lactitol  Sodium sulfate  Pentaerythritol  Macrogol  Mannitol  Sodium phosphate  Sorbitol  Magnesium citrate  Sodium tartrate

Enemas

Sodium laurilsulfate  Sodium phosphate  Bisacodyl  Dantron  Glycerol  Oil  Sorbitol

Peripheral opioid antagonists

Alvimopan  Methylnaltrexone  Oxycodone/naloxone

Prostaglandins

Lubiprostone

v  d  e

Antianemic preparations (B03), blood substitutes and perfusion solutions (B05), and other hematological agents (B06)

Antianemic preparations

Ferrous glycine sulfate  Ferrous fumarate  Ferrous gluconate  Ferrous carbonate  Ferrous chloride  Ferrous succinate  Ferrous sulfate  Ferrous tartrate  Ferrous aspartate  Ferrous ascorbate  Ferrous iodine

Blood substitutes and perfusion solutions

Serum albumin  Dextran  Gelatin agents  Hydroxyethylstarch  Hemoglobin crosfumaril  Hemoglobin raffimer  Sorbitol

Other hematological agents

Fibrinolysin  Desoxyribonuclease  Hyaluronidase  Chymotrypsin  Trypsin  Desoxyribonuclease  Bromelain

v  d  e

Diagnostic agents (V04)

Digestive system

Diabetes

Tolbutamide  Glucose

Fat absorption

Vitamin A concentrates

Bile duct patency

Sorbitol  Magnesium sulfate  Sincalide  Ceruletide

Liver functional capacity

Galactose  Sulfobromophthalein

Gastric secretion

Cation exchange resins  Betazole  Histamine phosphate  Pentagastrin  Methylthioninium chloride  Caffeine and sodium benzoate

Exocrine pancreatic function

Secretin  Pancreozymin (cholecystokinin)  Bentiromide

Endocrine system

Pituitary function

cortisol: Metyrapone  Corticorelin

GH: Sermorelin  Somatorelin

Thyroid function

Thyrotropin  Protirelin

Fertility disturbances

Gonadorelin

Tuberculosis

Tuberculin

Renal function

Inulin and other polyfructosans  Indigo carmine  Phenolsulfonphthalein  Alsactide  Aminohippuric acid

Categories: Osmotic diuretics | Sugar alcohols | Sweeteners | ExcipientsHidden categories: Chemboxes which contain changes to watched fields | Articles needing additional references from July 2009 | All articles needing additional references | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from July 2009 | Articles with unsourced statements from October 2007 | Articles that may contain original research from June 2009 | All articles that may contain original research