Why are sorbitol and mannitol used in vitamins and pharmaceutical products?
One reason is to increase absorption of vitamins and other nutrients: sorbitol and mannitol are passively absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, which means absorption is very slow or minimal. Their slow absorption allows more time for minerals, such as calcium, to be absorbed. In addition, sorbitol and mannitol are inert substances, which means they have little or no tendency or ability to react with other chemicals. The sweet taste of mannitol and sorbitol is used to hide the unpleasant taste of certain vitamins, such as B-vitamins, or drugs such as aspirin.
