Polydextrose
Polydextrose is an indigestible synthetic polymer of glucose.[1] It is a food ingredient classified as soluble fiber by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but not Health Canada.[2] It is frequently used to increase the non-dietary fiber content of food,[2] replace sugar, reduce calories and reduce fat content. It is a multi-purpose food ingredient synthesized from dextrose (glucose), plus about 10 percent sorbitol and 1 percent citric acid. Its E number is E1200. The FDA approved it in 1981.
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[edit] History
Commercial manufacture of edible polydextrose originated with a process developed by Hans H. Rennhard. Dr. Hans Rennhard of Pfizer, Inc. began investigating the potential of polysaccharides as low calorie replacements for sugar, fat, flour and starch. In 1965, he created polydextrose, a polymer of dextrose, produced from the naturally occurring components, glucose, sorbitol and citric acid.
[edit] Commercial uses
Polydextrose is commonly used as a replacement for sugar, starch, and fat in commercial beverages, cakes, candies, dessert mixes, breakfast cereals, gelatins, frozen desserts, puddings, and salad dressings. Polydextrose is frequently used as an ingredient in low-carb, sugar-free and diabetic cooking recipes. It's also used as a humectant, stabiliser and thickening agent.
Polydextrose is a form of soluble fiber and has shown healthful prebiotic benefits when tested in animals.[2] It contains only 1 kcal per gram and therefore is able to help reduce calories.
Polydextrose is known in the US by the brand names Litesse, Sta-Lite, Trimcal, Winway.
[edit] References
- ^ Raninen K, Lappi J, Mykkänen H, Poutanen K (January 2011). "Dietary fiber type reflects physiological functionality: Comparison of grain fiber, inulin, and polydextrose". Nutr. Rev. 69 (1): 9–21. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00358.x. PMID 21198631. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00358.x/pdf.
- ^ a b c Gershman, Jacob (2009-03-11). "Dietary Fibber: Don't be fooled by polydextrose and other fiber additives". Slate. http://www.slate.com/id/2213354/pagenum/all/#p2.
