Methods available to estimate the energy values of sugar alcohols

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 62; no. 5; pp. 1169S - 1174S
• Main Author: Ellwood, KC
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01.11.1995; American Society for Clinical Nutrition; American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc
• Subjects: Alcohol; ALIMENTOS; Animals; AZUCARES ALCOHOLES; Biological and medical sciences; DIGESTION; Energy Metabolism; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Intestinal Absorption; Maltose - analogs & derivatives; Maltose - metabolism; Maltose - pharmacokinetics; Metabolism; METABOLISME; METABOLISMO; METHODE; METODOS; MODELE MATHEMATIQUE; MODELOS MATEMATICOS; Nutrition; Nutritive Value; PRODUIT ALIMENTAIRE; Research and development. New food products, dietetic foods and beverages; Sorbitol - metabolism; Sorbitol - pharmacokinetics; SUCRE ALCOOL; Sugar; Sugar Alcohols - metabolism; Sugar Alcohols - pharmacokinetics; Sweetening Agents - metabolism; Sweetening Agents - pharmacokinetics; TECHNIQUE ANALYTIQUE; TECNICAS ANALITICAS; VALEUR ENERGETIQUE; VALEUR NUTRITIVE; VALOR ENERGETICO; VALOR NUTRITIVO; Congress; Sorbitol; Maltitol; Energetic value; Nutritive value; Sweetener; Review; Measurement method; Polyol
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/62.5.1169S

There is increased interest in the use of sugar alcohols as substitutes for sucrose in various food products. Part of this interest is derived from studies suggesting that sugar alcohols may have lower energy values because of the way they are metabolized. Contributing to the complexity is the fact that not all sugar alcohols are similarly metabolized. Indirect and direct methods used to assess the energy value of sugar alcohols have often yielded conflicting data. Energy values obtained using mathematical models have been adopted by some countries to account for metabolic processes associated with sugar alcohol digestion and absorption. I focus on two sugar alcohols, sorbitol and maltitol, and describe various methods that have been used to assess their energy value.