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E 968

E 968  is an organic compound, a four-carbon sugar alcohol (or polyol) with no optical activity, used as a food additive and sugar substitute. 
E 968 can be made from corn using enzymes and fermentation. 
E 968 also occurs in human body fluids such as eye lens tissue, serum, plasma, fetal fluid, and urine. 

CAS Number :  149-32-6 
EC  Number : 205-737-3
ECHA InfoCard    : 100.005.217 
PubChem CID    : 222285
ChemSpider    : 192963 
Chemical formula    : C4H10O4
Molar mass    : 122.120 g·mol−1
Density            : 1.45 g/cm3
Melting point    : 121 °C
Boiling point    : 329 to 331 °C

Preferred IUPAC name :
-(2R,3S)-Butane-1,2,3,4-tetrol

Other names :
-(2R,3S)-Butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol 

E 968 is naturally occurring. 
Its formula is C4H10O4, or HO(CH2)(CHOH)2(CH2)OH; specifically, one particular stereoisomer with that formula.

E 968 is 60–70% as sweet as sucrose . 
However, E 968 is almost completely noncaloric and does not affect blood sugar or cause tooth decay.
Japanese companies pioneered the commercial development of E 968 as a sweetener in the 1990s.

History of E 968
E 968 was discovered in 1848 by Scottish chemist John Stenhouse and first isolated in 1852. 
In 1950 E 968 was found in blackstrap molasses that was fermented by yeast, and it became commercialized as a sugar alcohol in the 1990s in Japan.

Natural occurrence and production of E 968
E 968 occurs naturally in some fruit and fermented foods.
At the industrial level, E 968 is produced from glucose by fermentation with a yeast, Moniliella pollinis.

Uses, absorption, and safety of E 968

Sulá-brand sugar-free liquorice, sweetened with E 968
Since 1990, E 968 has had a history of safe use as a sweetener and flavor-enhancer in food and beverage products, and is approved for use by government regulatory agencies of more than 60 countries.
Beverage categories for its use are coffee and tea, liquid dietary supplements, juice blends, soft drinks, and flavored water product variations, with foods including confections, biscuits and cookies, tabletop sweeteners, and sugar-free chewing gum.
The mild sweetness of E 968 allows for a volume-for-volume replacement of sugar, whereas sweeter sugar substitutes need fillers that result in a noticeably different texture in baked products.

E 968 is absorbed rapidly into the blood, with peak amounts occurring in under two hours; the majority of an oral dose (80 to 90%) is excreted unchanged in the urine within 24 hours.
As a test of safety, scientists assessed doses for erythritol where symptoms of mild gastrointestinal upset occurred, such as nausea, excess flatus, abdominal bloating or pain, and stool frequency. 
At a content of 1.6% in beverages it is not considered to have a laxative effect.
The upper limit of tolerance was 0.78 and 0.71 grams per kg body weight in adults and children, respectively.
For safe use in children, a scientific panel for the European Food Safety Authority recommended the upper limit content per food or beverage serving was 0.6 grams per kg body weight.

E 968 is the meso-diastereomer of butane-1,2,3,4-tetrol. 
E 968 has a role as an antioxidant, a plant metabolite and a human metabolite.
E 968  is a four-carbon sugar that is found in algae, fungi, and lichens. 
E 968  is twice as sweet as sucrose and can be used as a coronary vasodilator.
E 968  is a natural product found in Salacia chinensis, Allium chinense, and other organisms with data available.

E 968 is a sugar alcohol commonly found in nature. 
E 968 is found in many products such as melons, grapes, pears, mushrooms and honey. 
E 968 can also be obtained industrially from glucose with the help of osmophilic yeasts. 
E 968 is widely used as a sweetener in many foods, such as powdered milk, dairy desserts, some types of cheese, ice cream, breakfast cereals, sauces and processed meat products. 
The designated E code is E968.

E 968 is poorly metabolized in the body. 
Most of E 968 is excreted in the urine. 
For these reasons, E 968 does not affect glucose and insulin levels.

-E 968 is a non-fermented sweetener.
-E 968 is stable against high temperature and pH changes.
-E 968 does not cause tooth decay.
-E 968 has a low glycemic index. In this way, it can be used by patients with diabetes.
-E 968s sweetening power is quite high compared to sucrose. 
-E 968It is approximately 70% of sucrose.

A four-carbon carbohydrate with low carbs and zero calorie, also known as a sugar substitute and bulk sweetener. 
Like with other sugar alcohols, E 968 will not influence the blood sugar level and so suitable for diabetics, and it can prevent the occurrence of dental caries.
The difference with other sugar alcohols is that E 968 has no calories, a higher amount tolerance (no diarrhea symptoms), and produced by fermentation while other sugar alcohols, such as maltitol, mannitol, xylitol, and sorbitol are made by chemical hydrogenation.


First aid measures of  E 968

Inhalation:
Air the area. 
Move immediately the contaminated patient from the area and keep him at rest in a well ventilated area.
If you feel unwell seek medical advice.

Direct contact with skin (of the pure product):
Wash thoroughly with soap and running water.

Direct contact with eyes (of the pure product):
Wash immediately and thorougly with running water for at least 10 minutes.

Ingestion:
Not hazardous. 
It’s possible to give activated charcoal in water or liquid paraffin medicine.

Substance identity

EC / List no.: 205-737-3
CAS no.: 149-32-6
Mol. formula: C4H10O4

Hazard classification & labelling of E 968 
According to the notifications provided by companies to ECHA in REACH registrations no hazards have been classified.

About E 968 
E 968  is registered under the REACH Regulation and is manufactured in and / or imported to the European Economic Area, at ≥ 100 to < 1 000 tonnes per annum.
E 968  is used by consumers, by professional workers (widespread uses), in formulation or re-packing and in manufacturing.

Consumer Uses of E 968 
E 968  is used in the following products: cosmetics and personal care products.
Other release to the environment of E 968  is likely to occur from: indoor use as processing aid.

Article service life of E 968 
ECHA has no public registered data on the routes by which E 968  is most likely to be released to the environment. 
ECHA has no public registered data indicating whether or into which articles the substance might have been processed.

Widespread uses by professional workers of E 968 
E 968  is used in the following products: cosmetics and personal care products.
ECHA has no public registered data on the types of manufacture using E 968 . 
Other release to the environment of E 968  is likely to occur from: indoor use as processing aid.

Formulation or re-packing of E 968
E 968 is used in the following products: cosmetics and personal care products.
Release to the environment of E 968 can occur from industrial use: formulation of mixtures.

Uses at industrial sites of E 968
ECHA has no public registered data indicating whether or in which chemical products the substance might be used. 
ECHA has no public registered data on the types of manufacture using E 968. 
ECHA has no public registered data on the routes by which E 968 is most likely to be released to the environment.

Manufacture of E 968
Release to the environment of E 968 can occur from industrial use: manufacturing of the substance.

Synonyms:
Erythritol
erythritol
((2R,3S)-butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol)
(2R, 3S) butane-1,2,3,4 tetraol
(2R,3S)-butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol
(2R,3S)-butane-1,2,3,4-tetrol
butane-1,2,3,4-tetrol
erythritol
Erythritol
meso-Erythritol
149-32-6
ERYTHRITOL
meso-Erythritol
149-32-6
Phycitol
Erythrit
Mesoerythritol
Erythrite
Phycite
Erythrol
(2R,3S)-butane-1,2,3,4-tetrol
L-Erythritol
Antierythrite
1,2,3,4-Butanetetrol, (2R,3S)-rel-
erythro-tetritol
Butanetetrol
Erythroglucin
i-Erythritol
Tetrahydroxybutane
Erythritol [NF]
1,2,3,4-Butanetetrol
Paycite
(2S,3R)-butane-1,2,3,4-tetrol
CHEBI:17113
C*Eridex
NIK 242
meso-1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroxybutane
Erythritol, meso-
Erythritol,meso-erythritol
10030-58-7
NSC8099
Erythritol (NF)
RA96B954X6
Erythrol (VAN)
NSC-8099
(2r,3s)-butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol
rel-(2R,3S)-butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol
1,2,3,4-Butanetetrol, (R*,S*)-
Lichen sugar
(2R,3S)-rel-Butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol
NSC 8099
MRY
SMR000112220
Cargill Zerose 16957
MFCD00004710
meso-Eythritol
UNII-RA96B954X6
CCRIS 7901
HSDB 7968
1,2,3,4-Butanetetrol, (theta,S)-
EINECS 205-737-3
L-(-)-Threitol
D-ERYTHRITOL
E968
ERYTHRITOL [MI]
ERYTHRITOL [FCC]
ERYTHRITOL [INCI]
WLN: Q1YQYQ1Q
ERYTHRITOL [VANDF]
1,3,4-Tetrahydroxybutane
Epitope ID:114707
F 8015
meso-Erythritol, >=99%
ERYTHRITOL [MART.]
DSSTox_CID_23919
DSSTox_RID_80090
ERYTHRITOL [USP-RS]
DSSTox_GSID_43919
SCHEMBL17062
MLS001332365
MLS001332366
ZEROSE TM 16957
CHEMBL349605
INS NO.968
DTXSID6043919
ERYTHRITOL [EP IMPURITY]
FEMA NO. 4819
ERYTHRITOL [EP MONOGRAPH]
INS-968
HMS2270M08
Pharmakon1600-01301025
meso-Erythritol, analytical standard
Tox21_200564
NSC760400
s4224
ZINC17971067
1,3,4-Butanetetrol, (R*,S*)-
AKOS006339851
AM83963
CCG-266079
DB04481
DS-5851
NSC-760400
NCGC00247033-01
NCGC00258118-01
CAS-149-32-6
E-968
E0021
SW219107-1
C00503
D08915
E70403
WURCS=2.0/1,1,0/[h22h]/1/
BUTANE-1,2,3,4-TETROL, (2R,3S)-
EN300-1273040
149E326
BUTANE 1,2,3,4-TETROL (MESO-ERYTHRITOL)
Q421873
F0001-2636
Z1203161930
BDF1567C-B08B-425A-B87F-15FF46328423
Erythritol, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard
Erythritol, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference Standard
Erythritol, Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material
(2R,3S)-1,2,3,4-Butanetetrol [ACD/IUPAC Name]
(2R,3S)-1,2,3,4-Butanetétrol [French] [ACD/IUPAC Name]
(2R,3S)-1,2,3,4-Butantetrol [German] [ACD/IUPAC Name]
1,2,3,4-Butanetetrol [ACD/Index Name] [ACD/IUPAC Name]
1,2,3,4-Butanetetrol, (2R,3S)- [ACD/Index Name]
1719753 [Beilstein]
205-737-3 [EINECS]
Erythritol [Wiki]
i-Erythritol
KF2000000
meso-1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroxybutane
meso-Erythritol
MFCD00004710 [MDL number]
RA96B954X6
(2R,3S)-butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol
(2R,3S)-Butane-1,2,3,4-tetrol
(2R,3S)-rel-Butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol
(2S,3R)-butane-1,2,3,4-tetrol
[149-32-6] [RN]
1,2,3,4-Butanetetrol, (2R,3S)-rel-
1,2,3,4-Butanetetrol, (R*,S*)-
1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroxybutane
10030-58-7 [RN]
160141-08-2 [RN]
16642-93-6 [RN]
2051-76-5 [RN]
Antierythrite
butane-1,2,3,4-tetrol
Butanetetrol
C*Eridex
d-erythritol
DS-5851
Erythrit
Erythrite [Wiki]
-erythritol
ERYTHRITOL (D)
Erythritol, meso-
Erythroglucin
Erythrol
erythro-tetritol
L-(-)-Threitol
L-739750
L-Erythritol
Lichen sugar
L-Threitol
meso
mesoerythritol
meso-Erythritol|1,2,3,4-Butanetetrol
meso-Eythritol
MRY
Paycite
Pharmakon1600-01301025
Phycite
Phycitol
Tetrahydroxybutane
UNII:RA96B954X6
UNII-RA96B954X6
WLN: Q1YQYQ1Q

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