Polyol(s)

Authors: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer, Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020

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Definition
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Polyol(s) is a group of organic compounds containing several hydroxy groups (-OH), so-called polyalcohols (polyvalent alcohols). Although polyols are also called sugar alcohols, they are not sugars in the true sense of the word (carbohydrates).

Polyols are used as sugar-free sweeteners. In contrast to aspartame, saccharin and sucrose, they are used in the same quantity as sugar. Polyols can have a linear or cyclic structure.

The number of hydroxy groups in a chemical compound is indicated by the suffix: If a compound contains 1, 2 or 3 OH groups, the suffix "-ol", "-diol" or "-triol" is added accordingly; from 4 OH groups on, only one "polyol" is generally referred to.

Examples of polyols are: mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol, lactitol and others.

Incoming links (2)

low-fodmap-diet; Maltitol (inci);

Outgoing links (5)

Aspartame; Mannitol; Saccharin; Sorbitol; Sucrose;