What is sorbitol and how is it applied?

Sorbitol is a natural sweetener belonging to the group of polyols, i.e. sweeteners with a lower calorific value than sugar and a different texture. It is chemically a six-hydroxy alcohol that occurs naturally in some fruits, including peas, raisins, strawberries, straws, cherries, grapes, apples, as well as algae and legumes. Its sweetness is about 30 percentage points lower than that of sugar, so using sorbitol instead of sugar to obtain the same source of sugar should be used more.

Technological advantages of sorbitol include the ability to mask the bitter taste of other sweeteners used in food products, its easy solubility in water, its ability to prevent sucrose from crystallizing, and the development of unwanted flavours in confectionery products.

Sorbitol is absorbed very slowly in the digestive tract, and its excess intake can cause a cleansing effect in the mechanism of strengthening the peristalsis of the intestines and bile ducts by stimulating the secretion of cholecystokinin (a peptide hormone that stimulates the gastrointestinal tract).

Sorbitol (E 420) is a versatile sweetener. It is used in low-energy foods, sugar-free products, chewing gum, and sweets as healthier substitutes for traditional sugar-sweetened sweets.

Sorbitol in cosmetics has two main roles: it acts as a moisturizer and also affects the structure and texture of the cosmetic product. It has humic properties, i.e. it prevents the product from drying out, and in the case of liquid-constance products, it helps prevent crystallization of the product at the end of the bottle.

Intake of sorbitol is not recommended for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In patients with IBS who have also been diagnosed with a bacterial bowel obstruction (SIBO) there have been disorders in the absorption of Sorbitol, Fructose and Lactose. In people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with frequent inflammation, it is also recommended to limit the intake of products rich in sorbatol because it is one of the hard-to-digest substances that can increase symptoms.

Sorbitol can be purchased at local and online health food stores. For a kilogram of sorbitol we will pay about PLN 30. There is also a liquid consistency and a corresponding concentration of sorbatol available, which we buy in stores with substances for the production of home cosmetics. Srobitol is a multi-hydroxy alcohol with a wide range of uses. We can find it in the composition of food products, cosmetic products and medicines. Sorbital is a safe substance to use, but it is worth remembering not to consume it in excessive quantities because it can cause a cleansing effect.