Xylitol
is a sugar alcohol sweetener, used as a sugar substitute. Its primary sources
are the fibers of many vegetables and fruits. Moreover, it can also be
extracted from various mushrooms, oats and berries. Along with these things, it
can also be extracted from fibrous materials like sugar cane bagasse, birch and
corn husks. Its industrial production differs from natural sources as it starts
from xylan (a hemicellulose) extracted from corncobs or hardwoods, which is
hydrolyzed into xylose and catalytically hydrogenated into xylitol. There are
varieties of xylitol products available in the market. These products include
sugar free candy, xylitol mint, chewing gum, lollipops, jam along with various
others.