PURPOSE: To quantitatively obtain sugar alcohols contg. no epimer, by continuously catalytically reducing a sugar corresponding to a specified compd. with hydrogen in an aq. soln. under specific conditions by using a fixed bed hydrogenating catalyst composed of a specified carrier-free moulding formed out of iron family elements.

CONSTITUTION: The specified compd. of formula V-VIII containing no epimer, useful as a low-caloric sweetener, is obtd. by continuously catalytically reducing the sugar of formula I-IV corresponding to the specified compd. with hydrogen at 60-125°C under a hydrogen pressure of 100-500 bars by a fixed bed process on the hydrogenating catalyst composed of the carrier free moulding formed out of at least one of the iron family elements of the periodic table, having a compression strength of at least 50N, preferably 100-400N, to the surface, and having an inner surface area of 10-90 m2/g, while inhibiting the generation of impurities caused by epimerization, etherification or hydrogenolysis.