Sorbitol, also known as sorbitol. It is white hygroscopic powder or crystalline powder, flakes or granules, odorless. Depending on the crystallization conditions, the melting point changes in the range of 88~102℃, and the relative density is about 1.49. Easily soluble in water (1g dissolves in about 0.45mL water), slightly soluble in ethanol and acetic acid. It has a refreshing sweetness, the sweetness is about half that of sucrose, and its caloric value is similar to that of sucrose. In the food industry, it is mostly sorbitol liquid with a content of 69~71%.
Sorbitol’s side effects and risks, the following groups of people should use it with caution or prohibit it:
Sorbitol toxicity tests show that oral overdose can cause diarrhea and Digestive disorders.
Sorbitol is mainly metabolized in the liver. It is catalyzed by sorbitol dehydrogenase and converted into fructose. The subsequent metabolism is the same as that of fructose, but there are also differences. That is, the lactate produced is higher than the same dose of fructose. Less is produced, and more glycerol-1-phosphate is produced than fructose. This may be due to differences in concentration and deoxygenation of NADH formed. When sorbitol is given, serum concentrations become higher and remain elevated longer than with fructose. The excretion amount of sorbitol is 2%-25% of the amount used. After giving 1.5g/(kgh), the excretion is generally less than 10%. Sorbitol is also contraindicated in patients who cannot tolerate fructose.
In addition, sorbitol is also very dangerous for people who are deficient in fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. There are reports that when sorbitol solution is used in peritoneal dialysis in patients with chronic renal failure, abdominal pain, vomiting, hypertension, and a few patients may develop coma. Diarrhea caused by oral administration of sorbitol is dose-related. Chewing gum contains sorbitol. Eating twenty gums is equivalent to consuming five to twenty grams of sorbitol, which is enough to cause stomach discomfort, such as flatulence and cramps. Excessive grams may cause diarrhea and weight loss.