What is Erythritol?
Chemical Properties
white crystals or powder
Chemical Properties
Erythritol (meso-erythritol, meso-1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroxybutan) has been known for a long time. Its potential use as a bulk sweetener was, however, recognized rather late.
Erythritol is a natural constituent of several foods and beverages in levels sometimes exceeding 1 g/kg. Its solubility in water is approximately 370 g/L at room temperature and increases with increasing temperature. Erythritol melts at 121 C and is stable up to more than 160 C and in a pH range from 2 to 10. Depending on the concentration used, erythritol is approximately 60 % as sweet as sucrose. It is noncariogenic and not metabolized in the human body which means that it is more or less calorie-free.
In the European Union, erythritol is approved as E 968 for a large number of food applications. It is GRAS in the United States and also approved in many other countries.
Chemical Properties
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol (polyol) that occurs as a white or almost white powder or granular or crystalline substance. It is pleasant tasting with a mild sweetness approximately 60–70% that of sucrose. It also has a high negative heat of solution that provides a strong cooling effect.
Characteristics
The sweetness of erythritol is low, the sweetness of erythritol is only 60%-70% of sucrose, the entrance has a cool taste, the taste is pure, and there is no post-bitterness. It can be used in combination with high-intensity sweeteners to inhibit its Undesirable flavors of high-intensity sweeteners. Erythritol has high stability, is very stable to acid and heat, and has high acid and alkali resistance. It will not decompose and change at temperatures below 200 °C, and will not undergo Maillard reaction to cause discoloration. The heat of dissolution of erythritol is high: erythritol has an endothermic effect when dissolved in water, and the heat of dissolution is only 97.4kJ/kg, which is higher than the endothermic degree of glucose and sorbitol, and has a cooling feeling when eating. The solubility of erythritol at 25 °C is 37% (W/W). With the increase of temperature, the solubility of erythritol increases, and it is easy to crystallize and separate out crystals. Erythritol is very easy to crystallize, but it will not absorb moisture in a 90% humidity environment. It is easy to be crushed to obtain a powdery product, which can be used on the surface of food to prevent food from absorbing moisture and deteriorating.
Uses
Erythritol is a sweetener (polyol) manufactured by fermentation of glucose, the glucose-rich substrate being obtained by the enzymatic hydrolysis of starch. it is 60–70% as sweet as sugar, has excellent heat and acid stability, a high digestive tolerance, and a caloric value of 0.2 kcal/g. it is the only polyol produced by fermentation. it can be used as a sugar replacement in confectioneries, beverages, and desserts.
non-cariogenic, low-calorie (0.4 kcal/g) sweetener
Non-nutritive sweetener in beverages.
Production Methods
Erythritol is a starch-derived product. The starch is enzymatically hydrolyzed into glucose which is turned into erythritol via a fermentation process, using osmophilic yeasts or fungi (e.g. Moniliella pollinis, or Trichosporonoides megachiliensis).
Efficacy and effects of erythritol.
1. Antioxidant
Erythritol has antioxidant activity and can be used as an antioxidant, and scientists have shown that it has anti-cancer and kill cancer cells. It also helps to prevent blood vessel damage caused by high blood sugar, and can effectively remove free radicals, which is beneficial to skin health and delay aging.
2. Increase the sweetness of food
Erythritol is a sweetener, the sweetness is 60% to 70% of sucrose, the entrance has a cool sweetness, generally added to cakes, candy, drinks and other foods used.
3. Help with weight loss
Erythritol, although sweet, but no calories, is a natural zero-calorie sweetener, for cake products, adding erythritol can reduce at least 30% of the calories, and will not bring negative effects after use, after eating can help lose weight, very suitable for people who want to lose weight instead of sugar consumption.
4. Protect your mouth
Many people eat sugar to worry about dental caries, and erythritol this sugar substitute will not be used by oral bacteria, so it will not cause dental damage, but also reduce oral bacteria breeding, effectively protect oral health.
5. Improve odors
Erythritol can promote the solution combination of ethanol molecules and water molecules, and alcoholic beverages can reduce the odor and sensory stimulation of alcohol, which can effectively improve the quality of liquor and wine. At the same time, erythritol can also significantly improve the undesirable odor of plant extracts, collagen, peptides and other substances. Currently, erythritol has been added to some collagen product formulations to improve the taste.