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Xylitol: One Name, Numerous Benefits

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Sweeteners

Part of the book series: Reference Series in Phytochemistry ((RSP))

Abstract

Xylitol among other sugar alcohols have been extensively studied, showing numerous beneficial effects and potential clinical uses other than being used as a sweetener. The present chapter focuses on the beneficial effects of xylitol and its potential clinical relevance. It also elaborated the several beneficial effects of xylitol that requires more investigation, especially at clinical levels to ascertain its clinical and therapeutic applications. Information from different sources, mainly from “PubMed” journals, were reviewed, focusing on the beneficial effects and potential therapeutic values of this unique sugar alcohol in oral health care, glycemic control, lipid metabolism, weight management, bone metabolism, skin care, ear and upper respiratory tract infection and oxidative stress. There were consistent reports showing beneficial effects and potential clinical application of xylitol in the above-mentioned areas. There is a global acceptance of the use of xylitol in dental caries prevention and glycemic control, but more investigations are required to ascertain the clinical application of xylitol in the other areas. It has been approved as a safe sweetener by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USA, thus xylitol may be used not only as a sweetener but also as a therapeutic additive in the abovementioned health-related issues.

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Abbreviations

AEP:

Acquired enamel pellicle

AOM:

Acute otitis media

ChREBP:

Carbohydrate response element binding protein

EPS:

Extracellular polysaccharides

FFA:

Free fatty acid

GI:

Glycemic index

II:

Insulinemic index

NEFA:

Non-esterified fatty acid

NFBG:

Non-fasting blood glucose

PPARα:

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha

PPARγ:

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma

SREBP-1c:

Sterol response element binding protein 1c

T2D:

Type 2 diabetes

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban, South Africa

    Chika Ifeanyi Chukwuma & Md. Shahidul Islam

Authors
  1. Chika Ifeanyi Chukwuma
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  2. Md. Shahidul Islam
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Correspondence to Chika Ifeanyi Chukwuma or Md. Shahidul Islam .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

    Jean-Michel Mérillon

  2. Botany Department, M.L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur, India

    Kishan Gopal Ramawat

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Chukwuma, C.I., Islam, M.S. (2018). Xylitol: One Name, Numerous Benefits. In: Mérillon, JM., Ramawat, K. (eds) Sweeteners. Reference Series in Phytochemistry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27027-2_33

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