After realizing that his father was still consuming sugar after having been diagnosed with diabetes, Javier Larragoiti Kuri decided to find an alternative that would be more appealing and beneficial than substitutes currently found in the market.
In his search he found xylitol, a compound that since the 1980s was proven to be low in calories, regulate blood glucose levels and protect against tooth decay. He experimented with a successful biotechnological production process and obtained XiliNat, a product that maintains all these characteristics and is marketed at a lower price than the sweeteners in the market.
“My father being diabetic consumed sugar because the substitutes modified the taste of the foods to which they were added, and the same happened with other patients. With xylitol, taste does not change, and provides other benefits,” says the Larragoiti Kuri, master in chemical engineering from University College London.
Xylitol marketed in the world is extracted from birch wood (Betula spp), a tree native from Asia, and because of the chemical reactions used for its production is expensive. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, for its acronym in English) recognizes it as a natural sweetener that prevents the development of caries and it has a very low glycemic index and doesn’t spike blood sugar or insulin. In addition, it improves calcium absorption and prevents osteoporosis.
To obtain xylitol Larragoiti Kuri uses agricultural residues, specifically corncobs bough directly from local farmers.
The chemical reactions for the production of xylitol used in Europe were replaced by a fermentation process similar to that used for the manufacture of beer or wine, which is already registered for a patent application at the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property.
Xylitol is an alcohol of the family of polyols, which also include sorbitol and mannitol. However, unlike these two, xylitol does not have laxative effects if consumed in large concentrations. Its negative side though is that it is highly toxic to dogs.
Because of its taste very similar to conventional sugar, xylitol is used as a sweetener for beverages, sweets and chewing gums, as well as oral hygiene products, cosmetics and medicines.
For the creation of XiliNat, a natural sweetener obtained from corn residues, Javier Larragoiti obtained the third place in the Micros, Small and Medium Enterprises category, of the 2018 Prize for Technological Innovation awarded by the Mexican Association of Research Managers Applied and Technological Development (ADIAT). The recognition was delivered on April 18, 2018 in Mexico City.
Source: Agencia ID
