Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / Science & Nature / Science / Chemistry / Organic Chemistry / Difference Between Allulose and Erythritol

Difference Between Allulose and Erythritol

September 17, 2020 Posted by Madhu

The key difference between allulose and erythritol is that allulose is a monosaccharide sugar whereas erythritol is a polyol.

Both allulose and erythritol are useful as sweeteners in food and beverage industry. These substances are sweet-tasting but not largely absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. Instead, it is absorbed in the intestine and excreted from urine. Therefore, these are safe sweeteners to be consumed.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Allulose 
3. What is Erythritol
4. Side by Side Comparison – Allulose vs Erythritol in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Allulose?

Allulose is an organic compound having the chemical formula C6H12O6. It is also named as psicose. Allulose is a low-calorie monosaccharide sugar compound. Therefore, it is important in the food industry and beverage production as a sweetener. We can find this sugar in trace amounts in some food – e.g. corn, beet sugar, etc.

The sweetness of allulose is considered to be around 70% of the sweetness of sucrose. This substance has a cooling sensation but no bitterness. The taste of allulose resembles the taste of normal sugar we use. Typically, the caloric value of carbohydrates in our body stays around 4 kcal/g but the caloric value of allulose is about 0.2-0.4 kcal/g. Furthermore, allulose metabolism by our body is minimal and it is absorbed and excreted from urine. Therefore, the glycemic index of allulose is very low.

Difference Between Allulose and Erythritol

Figure 01: Chemical Structure of Allulose

Safety of using allulose largely depends on the dose one takes. This substance causes incomplete absorption of carbohydrates from the gastrointestinal tract, which subsequently causes incomplete fermentation of these carbohydrates by intestinal bacteria. This can result in unpleasant symptoms such as flatulence, abdominal discomfort, and even diarrhoea. Therefore, there is a minimum intake value for allulose (usually, 0.55 g per 1 kg of body weight).

What is Erythritol?

Erythritol is an organic compound having the chemical formula C4H10O4. This compound is a sugar alcohol, and we can use it as a food additive and a sugar substituent. Erythritol is a naturally occurring substance, and we can make it from corn using enzymes and fermentation. Furthermore, it is a stereoisomer.

Erythritol is known to be about 60-70% sweet as sucrose. But this compound is almost noncaloric. This does not affect the blood sugar level and has no effect on tooth decay. Generally, erythritol occurs in some fruits and fermented food. In the industrial scale, we can produce it from the fermentation of glucose with yeast.

Key Difference - Allulose vs Erythritol

Figure 02: Chemical Structure of Erythritol

There are many applications of erythritol as a food additive. Examples include beverages such as coffee, tea, liquid dietary supplements, juice blends, soft drinks, and flavoured water.

Erythritol can be produced from starch, beginning with enzymatic hydrolysis of starch obtained from corn to generate glucose. Then, glucose is fermented with yeast or another fungus to form erythritol.

What is the Difference Between Allulose and Erythritol?

Allulose and erythritol are sweeteners. They are important in the food and beverage industry. The key difference between allulose and erythritol is that allulose is a monosaccharide sugar whereas erythritol is a polyol. Allulose has about 70% of the sweetness of sucrose while erythritol has about 60% of the sweetness of sucrose. Moreover, allulose occurs naturally in trace amounts while erythritol can be found in some fruits and fermented food and can be also produced by fermentation processes using yeast.

Below infographic tabulates the differences between allulose and erythritol.

Difference Between Allulose and Erythritol in Tabular Form

Summary – Allulose vs Erythritol

Allulose and erythritol are sweeteners. They are important in the food and beverage industry. The key difference between allulose and erythritol is that allulose is a monosaccharide sugar whereas erythritol is a polyol.

Reference:

1. Gunnars, Kris. Erythritol – Healthy Sweetener or a Big, Fat Lie? 23 Apr. 2018, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Psicose” By Edgar181 – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Erythritol structure” By Su-no-G – Own work made with ChemDraw (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

Related posts:

Difference Between Aldehyde and FormaldehydeDifference Between Aldehyde and Formaldehyde Difference Between Ether and Petroleum EtherDifference Between Ether and Petroleum Ether Difference Between Markovnikov and Anti-Markovnikov RuleDifference Between Markovnikov and Anti-Markovnikov Rule Difference Between Carbonium Ion and CarbanionDifference Between Carbonium Ion and Carbanion Difference Between Alkoxide and PhenoxideDifference Between Alkoxide and Phenoxide

Filed Under: Organic Chemistry

About the Author: Madhu

Madhu is a graduate in Biological Sciences with BSc (Honours) Degree and currently persuing a Masters Degree in Industrial and Environmental Chemistry. With a mind rooted firmly to basic principals of chemistry and passion for ever evolving field of industrial chemistry, she is keenly interested to be a true companion for those who seek knowledge in the subject of chemistry.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

Difference Between Healthy Food and Junk Food

What is the Difference Between Gum and Mucilage

What is the Difference Between Gum and Mucilage

Difference Between Epididymis and Testicular Cancer

Difference Between Epididymis and Testicular Cancer

Difference Between Left Handed People and Right Handed People

Difference Between Left Handed People and Right Handed People

Difference Between Preferred Stock and Common Stock

Latest Posts

  • What is the Difference Between Hapten and Adjuvant
  • What is the Difference Between Omphalocele and Gastroschisis
  • What is the Difference Between Autonomic and Somatic Reflexes
  • What is the Difference Between Plagiocephaly and Craniosynostosis
  • What is the Difference Between Coconut Oil and Virgin Coconut Oil
  • What is the Difference Between Wintrobe and Westergren Tube
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal.