xylitol

American  

[zahy-li-tawl, -tol] / ˈzaɪ lɪˌtɔl, -ˌtɒl /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a naturally occurring pentose sugar alcohol, C 5 H 12 O 5 , used as a sugar substitute.

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xylitol British  

/ ˈzaɪlɪˌtɒl /

noun

1. chem an artificial sweetener produced from xylose and used esp in chewing gum. Formula: CH 2 HOH(CHOH) 3 CH 2 OH

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xylitol Scientific  

/ zī′lĭ-tôl′,-tōl′ /

1. A sweet white crystalline alcohol derived from xylose and used as a sugar substitute. Chemical formula: C ₅ H ₁₂ O ₅ .

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Etymology

Origin of xylitol

< German Xylit (1891), equivalent to Xyl ( ose ) xylose + -it -ite ¹; -itol

Example Sentences

Emergency treatment for a pet with xylitol toxicity involves giving the animal IV fluids containing dextrose to raise its blood glucose level and carefully monitoring its progress.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2022

Pineapples, olives, asparagus, sweet potatoes and carrots are natural sources of mannitol; cereals, mushrooms and some fruits and vegetables contain xylitol; and various fruits such as apples, pears, blackberries, peaches and prunes contain sorbitol.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 21, 2022

A recent study found that chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol significantly decreased the rate of preterm births in a large group of women in a rural part of Malawi.

From Washington Post • Jul. 29, 2022

Researchers tested whether chewing gum made with the sweetener xylitol could help.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 3, 2022

“Tinctures are very scary,” said Knepper, who also advises dog owners to keep pets away from edibles that are marketed to diabetics, as they likely contain xylitol, which is extremely toxic to dogs.

From Washington Times • Mar. 4, 2019