Sucrose polyesters

Sucrose polyesters combine sucrose with fatty acids (C12 to above C20); they pass through the gastrointestinal tract unabsorbed and can replace fats in shortenings, spreads, and other foods. The best known is olestra, whose large, bulky molecules cannot fit the active site of digestive lipases, so it passes through contributing no calories while mimicking fat’s texture and cooking performance. Because it can carry fat-soluble vitamins out of the body, fortification is required where it is approved, and gastrointestinal tolerance limits its use levels.