A process for the hydrogenation of a sugar or a mixture of two or more thereof comprises the following step: Bringing the sugar or the mixture of two or more thereof into contact with hydrogen in the presence of specific catalysts to give a sugar alcohol or a mixture of two or more thereof, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one metal of transition group VIII of the Periodic Table, either alone or together with at least one metal of transition group I or VII of the Periodic Table.