Sorbitol is a white hygroscopic powder or crystalline powder or flake Or granules, odorless. Depending on the crystallization conditions, the melting point changes in the range of 88 to 102°C, and the relative density is about 1.49. Easily soluble in water (1g dissolves in about 0.45mL water), slightly soluble in ethanol and acetic acid. It has a refreshing sweetness, the sweetness is about half that of sucrose, and its caloric value is similar to that of sucrose. Sorbitol liquid is a clear, colorless, syrupy liquid with a sweet taste, neutral to litmus, and miscible with water, glycerin and propylene glycol.
Side effects of sorbitol:
Sorbitol is mainly metabolized in the liver and is catalyzed by sorbitol dehydrogenase into fructose. The metabolism is the same as fructose, but there are differences, that is, the lactate produced is less than that produced by the same dose of fructose, and the 1-glycerol phosphate produced is more than fructose. This may be due to differences in concentration and deoxygenation of NADH formed. When sorbitol is given, serum concentrations become higher and remain elevated longer than with fructose. The excretion amount of sorbitol is 2%-25% of the amount used. After administration of 1.5g/(kg?h), less than 10% is generally excreted. Sorbitol is also contraindicated in patients who cannot tolerate fructose.
In addition, sorbitol is also very dangerous for people who are deficient in fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. There are reports that when sorbitol solution is used in peritoneal dialysis in patients with chronic renal failure, abdominal pain, vomiting, hypertension, and a few patients may develop coma. Diarrhea caused by oral administration of sorbitol is dose-related. Chewing gum contains sorbitol. Eating twenty gums is equivalent to consuming five to twenty grams of sorbitol, which is enough to cause stomach discomfort, such as flatulence and cramps. Excessive grams may cause diarrhea and weight loss.