Sugar never tasted so good

Isomalt, a new sugar replacer exclusively made from a true sugar-sucrose, is being used to sweeten a range of products that are typically the enemies of good oral health.

Products from leading consumer brands have adopted Isomalt as a sugar alternative and include Cadbury Light chocolate and 24/7 gum; Zones chewing gum and hard lollies; Airwaves chewing gum pellets; Soothers; Double D lollies; Wrigley Eclipse and Extra pellets; Ricci Sugarfree chews and high boils; Menz sugarfree crown mints; Equal high boils; Kaiser; and, Johnsons Eucalyptus & Fruit Drops.

Isomalt is a disaccharide alcohol, a so-called polyol, that can be used as a sweetener on a 1:1 basis to replace sugar. Nutritionally, it is a carbohydrate and physiologically it is toothfriendly, calorie reduced and suitable for diabetics with no effect on blood glucose levels. Importantly, it does not leave the after taste of other sweeteners that offer similar benefits.

Dentally, a review of Isomalt by Featherstone (1994) concluded: "The evidence shows clearly that Isomalt has a low acidogenicity and a low cariogenic potential according to criteria established within the dental profession."

In particular, Isomalt does not promote tooth decay because:

• Isomalt is not used to build-up extra cellular polysaccharides used for plaque formation and thus does not contribute to plaque formation and may even inhibit plaque formation;
• The consumption of products containing Isomalt stimulates salivation, thus promoting remineralisation of incipient caries damage; and
• Isomalt cannot be used as a nutrient by the oral flora. As there is very limited acid production from Isomalt, no holes in the teeth occur. Evidence of this toothfriendly property has been obtained scientifically in numerous pH-telemetric studies.

Isomalt is providing expanded food choices for the growing number of people looking to improve their diet, or for medical reasons, may need to limit their sugar intake.