xylitol is a monosaccharide sugar alcohol found in small quantities in mushrooms, fruits, and vegetables, and in the fiber of various trees, such as birch. It was discovered in 1890, but it did not become an important sweetener until after World War II, when Finnish scientists began to promote “birch sugar” as a substitute for table sugar (sucrose). Finnish food manufacturers popularized xylitol as a sugar substitute in chewing gums and lozenges in the 1960s.
Xylitol has a number of unusual characteristics. It has the same appearance and sweet taste as sucrose, but the human body absorbs it more slowly and incompletely. Compared to sucrose, xylitol has fewer calories, and it does not spike blood sugar or raise insulin levels. Because it has a very low glycemic index, it is a useful sweetener for diabetics. In addition, oral bacteria do not metabolize xylitol, so it does not promote tooth decay; some studies suggest that it may facilitate remineralization of teeth. See dental caries. Xylitol also produces a cooling sensation in the mouth, which adds to the refreshing qualities of chewing gum and pastilles.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved xylitol for human consumption as a sweetener and gave it the status of “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS). Xylitol is considered by many authorities to be a healthful substitute for sugar, although when consumed in large quantities it can produce intestinal gas and cause diarrhea. It is also toxic to dogs.
Historically, xylitol was used mainly as a sweetener in medications, foods for diabetic diets, and chewing gum. See chewing gum. In the twenty-first century, it has been touted as a weight-loss panacea in numerous articles and cookbooks, such as Fran Gare’s The Sweet Miracle of Xylitol (2002). World production has recently exploded, as new facilities in China, Korea, and Taiwan began producing synthetic xylitol. In 2010, world production reached 200,000 tons, of which the European Union produced about half and the United States about 20 percent; the remainder was produced in India, China, Taiwan, and Korea. Production is expected to rapidly expand in the future as new facilities come online.
See also artificial sweeteners and sugar and health.