[The use of sugar substitutes in parenteral feeding]

Parenteral administration of hydrocarbons is particularly indicated after heavy trauma or operations. In this case, fructose and the sugar substitutes sorbitol and xylitol play an important role as they can be metabolized independently from insulin. In this comprehensive review, the objectives and goals of parenteral nutrition as well as the metabolic processes of sugar substitutes in the human organism and their effects and the tolerances are discussed.