define xylitol
Xylitol /ËzaÉªlÉªtÉl/ is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener. The name derives from Greek: Î¾ÏÎ»Î¿Î½, xyl, wood + suffix -itol, used to denote sugar alcohols. Xylitol is categorized as a polyalcohol or sugar alcohol (alditol). It has the formula CH2OH(CHOH)3CH2OH and is an achiral isomer of pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol.