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Sorbitol

    Synonyms: C*PharmSorbidex; E420; 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexanehexol; Liponic 70- NC; Liponic 76-NC; Meritol; Neosorb; Sorbitab; sorbite; Dsorbitol; Sorbitol Instant; sorbitolum; Sorbogem.

    Description: Sorbitol is D-glucitol. It is a hexahydric alcohol related to mannose and is isomeric with mannitol. Sorbitol occurs as an odorless, white or almost colorless, crystalline, hygroscopic powder. Four crystalline polymorphs and one amorphous form of sorbitol have been identified that have slightly different physical properties, e.g. melting point. Sorbitol is available in a wide range of grades and polymorphic forms, such as granules, flakes, or pellets that tend to cake less than the powdered form and have more desirable compression characteristics. Sorbitol has a pleasant, cooling, sweet taste and has approximately 50–60% of the sweetness of sucrose.

    Chemical Name: D-Glucitol

    Humectant; plasticizer; stabilizing agent; sweetening agent; tablet and capsule diluent.

    • Sorbitol is widely used as an excipient in pharmaceutical formulations. It is also used extensively in cosmetics and food products.

    • Sorbitol is used as a diluent in tablet formulations prepared by either wet granulation or direct compression.

    • It is particularly useful in chewable tablets owing to its pleasant, sweet taste and cooling sensation.

    • In capsule formulations it is used as a plasticizer for gelatin. Sorbitol has been used as a plasticizer in film formulations.

    • In liquid preparations sorbitol is used as a vehicle in sugar-free formulations and as a stabilizer for drug, vitamin, and antacid suspensions.

    • Furthermore, sorbitol is used as an excipient in liquid parenteral biologic formulations to provide effective protein stabilization in the liquid state.

    • It has also been shown to be a suitable carrier to enhance the in vitro dissolution rate of indometacin.

    • In syrups it is effective in preventing crystallization around the cap of bottles. Sorbitol is additionally used in injectable and topical preparations, and therapeutically as an osmotic laxative.

    • Sorbitol may also be used analytically as a marker for assessing liver blood flow.

    Sorbitol will form water-soluble chelates with many divalent and trivalent metal ions in strongly acidic and alkaline conditions. Addition of liquid polyethylene glycols to sorbitol solution, with vigorous agitation, produces a waxy, water-soluble gel with a melting point of 35–40C. Sorbitol solutions also react with iron oxide to become discolored. Sorbitol increases the degradation rate of penicillins in neutral and aqueous solutions

    Sorbitol is widely used in a number of pharmaceutical products and occurs naturally in many edible fruits and berries. It is absorbed more slowly from the gastrointestinal tract than sucrose and is metabolized in the liver to fructose and glucose. Its caloric value is approximately 16.7 J/g (4 cal/g).

    Sorbitol may be harmful if ingested in great quantities. It may be irritant to the eyes. Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Eye protection, gloves, and a dust mask or respirator are recommended.

    Maltitol solution; mannitol; xylitol.