Properties and Appplications of Lactitol

摘要

LACTITOL IS A DISACCHARIDE SUGAR ALCOHOL made from lactose by catalytic hydrogenation (Fig. 1). Depending on temperature and concentration, the reduced-calorie ingredient can be obtained from an aqueous solution as lactitol anhydrate, monohydrate, ordi-hydrate. This article will discuss the properties, applications, and regulatory aspects of lactitol, marketed under the tradename Lacty by Purac biochem bv, Holland. Lactitol has a clean, sweet, sugar-like taste without an aftertaste. It is a very suitable and versatile bulk sweetener that can be substituted for sugar in a wide variety of food applications. The sweetness of lactitol is approximately 40% that of sugar. In most applications, it can be used in conjunction with an intense sweetener likeaspartame or acesulfame-K. The taste, sweetening power, and profile of such sweetener combinations are very close to those of sucrose. Its mild, sweet taste allows other flavors to be clearly perceived.