Producing Low Sugar Fruit With Fewer Calories

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness;  Diabetes
Article Date: 16 Feb 2006 - 9:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

The technology to produce low sugar fruits with up to half the calories of the natural variety has been developed by US scientists, writes Jennifer Rohn in Chemistry & Industry magazine.

Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have developed apples with high levels of the natural sweetener sorbitol. Sorbitol has only 2.6 calories per gram, 45% less than sucrose and fructose. Sorbitol, fructose and sucrose are all found naturally in fruit.

Although researcher Abhaya Dandekar has worked primarily on apples, he says that related fruits, such as pears, peaches, plums and cherries could also be produced as a low-sugar variety. Dandekar used genetic modification, but he says that plant breeders could use natural methods to achieve the same end.

'We are just getting under the hood of the biosynthesis of sorbitol,' says Dandekar. 'And it's extremely complex,' because sorbitol is used to generate fructose within fruits, but is itself produced in the leaves.

Lynsey Sizer of Weight Watchers UK says that 'eating fruit and vegetables has always been part of our central beliefs at Weight Watchers. Fruit and vegetables are generally low in fat and calories, making them low in points values too.' But she says the research is interesting.

A sorbitol apple would be half a point on the Weight Watcher's diet, whereas a conventional apple is a full Point.

About Chemistry & Industry

Chemistry & Industry magazine from SCI delivers news and comment from the interface between science and business. As well as covering industry and science, it focuses on developments that will be of significant commercial interest in five- to ten-years time. Published twice-monthly and free to SCI Members, it also carries authoritative features and reviews. Opinion-formers worldwide respect Chemistry & Industry for its independent insight. http://www.chemind.org

About SCI

SCI is a unique international forum where science meets business on independent, impartial ground. Anyone can join, and the Society offers a chance to share information between sectors as diverse as food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, environmental science and safety. As well as publishing new research and running events, SCI has a growing database of member specialists who can give background information on a wide range of scientific issues. http://www.chemind.org

Originally established in 1881, SCI is a registered charity with members in over 70 countries.

http://www.chemind.org