Xylitol - Production of Xylitol

Production of Xylitol

Xylitol was discovered almost simultaneously by German and French chemists in the late 19th century, and was first popularized in Europe as a safe sweetener for people with diabetes that would not affect insulin levels. Its dental significance was researched in Finland in the early 1970s, when scientists at Turku University showed it had significant dental benefits. Those became known as the "Turku sugar studies". Today, using hardwood or maize sources, the largest manufacturer globally is the Danish company Danisco, with several other suppliers from China. Xylitol is produced by hydrogenation of xylose, which converts the sugar (an aldehyde) into a primary alcohol.