HealthAugust 3, 2026

sorbitol

SOR-bih-tawl

Definition

A type of sugar alcohol used as a low-calorie artificial sweetener and thickener in various food and drink products.

Etymology

Derived from the scientific name for the mountain ash tree, 'Sorbus', because it was first discovered in the berries of that tree. The suffix '-ol' was added to denote its classification as a chemical alcohol.

In the news

Sorbitol is listed in the article as one of the specific low- or no-calorie sweeteners identified in a study that showed a correlation with accelerated cognitive decline in adults under 60.

Study reveals alarming problem linked to drinking Diet Coke daily

Read the full article ↗

thestreet.com

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