Erythritol: A Multifunctional Natural Cariostatic Sweetening Agent in Oral Care

By: Katleen Brys, Cargill R&D Centre Europe

Posted: April 30, 2007, from the May 2007 issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries.

 Xylitol is alreadywell known as a cariostatic agent. Erythritol, on the other hand, is not. However, erythritol provides advantages in terms of taste masking and its synergistic effect with high intensity sweeteners and humectance systems. Its properties as a cariostatic agent are the subject of this article.

Erythritol
Erythritol (butane 1,2,3,4-tetrol) is a natural sugar alcohol (polyol) that occurs in a wide variety of foods, including fruits and mushrooms, and in popular fermented foods such as cheese, wine, beer, sake and soy sauce. Like all polyols, erythritol functions as a bulk sweetener (60–70% sweetness of sucrose) that is suitable for diabetics and resistant to metabolism by oral bacteria. Unlike other polyols, erythritol is noncaloric and more easily digested.

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