XYLITOL FACTS

1.What is xylitol?

Natural sweetener xylitol is sugar alcohol, which is extracted from the bark of birch tree and is present also in fruits (strawberry, raspberry, yellow plum, …), vegetables (endive, …) and mushrooms

2.How is xylitol different from other sweeteners?

From chemical point of view xylitol is not sugar, but sugar alcohol. Its molecule contains five carbon atoms, while the molecules of sorbitol, fructose and glucose contain six carbon atoms. Xylitol is as sweet as saccharose (table sugar), but has twice less calories. Xylitol is the only natural sweetener, which does not cause tooth decay, because bacterias and yeasts in mouth can not use xylitol for growth, which is the case with other sugars, for which reason xylitol is used in chewing gums, toothpastes and other products for dental hygiene. Despite the fact that xylitol is composed solely from carbohydrates, it is digested very slowly. This prevents sudden changes of sugar level in blood (low glicemic index) and is therefore appropriate for people with diabetes or other illness which are the consequence of unbalanced sugar.

3.Is xylitol safe for usage in diets with monitored sugar level?

Yes. Xylitol is qualified among carbohydrates and is used in foodstuffs since 1960. In USA is approved as supplement in unlimited quantities and is safe for usage in any diet with monitored sugar leve

4. Is xylitol safe?

Yes. JECFA, joined expert commission of WHO and FAO, have in 1983 proved the fact, which was by than already known to scientists, that xylitol is totally safe natural sweetener for foodstuffs. FDA has confirmed this fact in 1986

5.What the clinical studies about the correlation between usage of xylitol and dental hygiene prove?

25 year clinical studies prove, that xylitol reduces the chances for caries for 80%. 4-12g of xylitol daily assures the wanted results. Because 1 LOTTE Alpha Xylitol chewing gum contains 1,407g of xylitol and 1 LOTTE Xylitol chewing gum 0,915g of xylitol, the daily need of xylitol is easy to achieve. Especially recommended is chewing after each meal.

6.When was xylitol discovered?

Xylitol was discovered practically at the same time by German and French chemists at the end of 19th century. Most of the researches about the correlation between usage of xylitol and dental hygiene were done in Finland, where the scientists have proven the functionality and efficiency of xylitol in 1970 on the Turku university.