Isomalt

Isomalt, a mixture of a-D-glucopyranosyl-l,l-D-mannitol dibydrate and a-D-glucopyranosyl-l,6-D-sorbitol, is obtained by hydrogenating isomaltulose which is en2ymatically derived from sucrose (102). 

Sweetness is often an important characteristic of sugar alcohols in food and pharmaceutical applications. The property of sweetness is measured in a variety of ways and has a corresponding variability in ratings (218). Based on one or more test methods, erythritol and xyfitol are similar to or sweeter than sucrose (218,219). Sorbitol is about 60% as sweet as sucrose, and mannitol, D-arabinitol, ribitol, maltitol, isomalt, and lactitol are generally comparable to sorbitol (see Sweeteners). 

Maltitol, lactitol, isomalt, maltitol solutions (symps), and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates (HSH) have GRAS petitions filed with the FDA and are being sold commercially under self-determined GRAS status. Maltitol, owing to its lower negative heat of solution, is often preferred over mannitol as the... 

It is possible to make biscuits where the sugars have been replaced by sugar-free bulk sweeteners. Isomalt is particularly successful as a sucrose replacer in this application. 

Disaccharides such as isomaltulose (6-a-D-glucopyranosyl-D-fructo-furanose), obtained in one step from sucrose by bioconversion (Scheme 12),44 Isomalt , the hydrogenated derivative of isomaltulose and trehalulose (1-a-D-glucopyranosyl-D-fructopyranose) have been shown to be interesting substrates for chemistry.45... 

Intense and bulk sweeteners are endorsed by international agencies and approved in a large number of countries. Acesulfame K, aspartame and saccharin are available as sweeteners in the EU and Europe while sucralose is approved in the USA and due for approval in Europe and cyclamate, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone and thaumatin are available in Europe. As bulk sweeteners isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol and xylitol are commonly available. 

Isomalt. Developed in Germany, isomalt is described as an energy-reduced bulk sweetener and marketed in Europe under the tradename Pak2tinit mark. The compound is produced from sucrose in a two-step process, as shown in Fig. 1. 

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