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.