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Xylitol, gram for gram, is roughly as sweet as sucrose, but contains 40% fewer calories. Its formula is C5 H12 O5, with relative mass 152.15 amu.
In addition to discouraging tooth decay by replacing dietary sugars, xylitol may actively aid in restoring small caries (dental cavities). Recent research confirms a plaque-reducing effect and suggests that the compound, chemically similar to table sugar, attracts and then "starves" harmful microorganisms, allowing the mouth to remineralize damaged teeth with less interruption. The United States Army, acting on this data, will soon pack xylitol-sweetened gum in MREs.
Xylitol is a low- calorie alternative to table sugar ( sucrose) (approximately 40% fewer calories), and is absorbed more slowly than sugar; thus it doesn't contribute to a rapid rise in blood glucose and the resultant insulincarbon; green: oxygen; blue: nitrogen; pink: sulphur. The blue/purple ribbons denote the skeleton [-N-C-C-]n in the protein's amino acid sequence H-[-NH-CHR-CO-]n-OH where R is the part protruding from the skeleton in each amino acid. Insulin ( Latin insu response.
Xylitol also appears to have potential as a treatment for osteoporosisOsteoporosis is a disease of bone in which the amount of bone is decreased and the strength of trabecular bone is reduced, cortical bone becomes thin and bones are susceptible to fracture. It is defined according to the bone mineral density (BMD) as measu. A group of Finnish researchers have found that dietary xylitol prevents weakening of boneFor other uses of the word "bone", see bone (disambiguation). Gray's illustration of a human femur, a typically recognized bone. Bone refers either to a hardened connective tissue or to one of the individual structures, or organs, into which it is formed,s in laboratory rats, and actually improves bone density.12
Studies3 have shown that xylitol chewing gum can help prevent ear infections (acute otitis mediaOtitis media (also known as glue ear is an inflammation of the middle ear, usually associated with a buildup of fluid. The fluid may or may not be infected. There are several kinds of otitis media: Acute otitis media is an infection that produces pus, flu).
Xylitol, like most sugar alcohols, can have mild laxativeA laxative is a preparation used for the purpose of encouraging defecation, or the elimination of feces. Laxatives are most often taken in response to constipation. They are also sometimes used before medical procedures. They are often abused by bulimics effects at high doses. It has no known toxicity; people have consumed as much as 400 gramsFor other meanings of gram see gram (disambiguation). The gram (also spelt gramme is a unit of measurement of mass, and is defined in the SI system of units as one thousandth of a kilogram. See 1 E -3 kg for comparisons with other masses. The symbol for g daily for long periods with no ill effects.