What are the Categories of Sweeteners?
August 30, 2023
Sweeteners are typically classified into three categories: sugar alcohols, non-sugar natural sweeteners, and artificial synthetic sweeteners. Sugar alcohols are mostly synthesized and generally have a lower sweetness than sucrose, although some are comparable. The main types include sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, and xylitol. Currently, xylitol, sorbitol, and maltitol are the most widely used. Due to their lower caloric value and different metabolic processes compared to glucose, sugar alcohols have specific uses. For instance, sugar alcohols can enter fructose metabolism through a non-insulin mechanism, and studies show they do not raise blood sugar levels, making them ideal for individuals with diabetes. Non-sugar sweeteners encompass both natural and artificial types, usually offering high sweetness at very low usage levels, with minimal caloric content. Some do not participate in metabolic processes and are often referred to as high-sweetness, non-nutritive, or low-calorie sweeteners. Key products in the non-sugar natural sweeteners category include stevioside, glycyrrhizin, disodium glycyrrhizinate, and potassium glycyrrhizinate, as well as arbutin. The most commonly used are disodium glycyrrhizinate, which is about 200 times sweeter than sucrose, and stevioside, which is approximately 300 times...
