Gastrointestinal tolerance of erythritol and xylitol ingested in a liquid

Abstract

Objectives: To determine and compare the gastrointestinal (GI) responses of young adults following consumption of 45 g sucrose, 20, 35 and 50 g xylitol or erythritol given as a single oral, bolus dose in a liquid. Design: The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Subjects: Seventy healthy adult volunteers aged 18-24 years were recruited from the student population of the University of Salford. Sixty-four subjects completed the study. Interventions: Subjects consumed at home without supervision and in random order, either 45 g sucrose or 20, 35 and 50 g erythritol or xylitol in water on individual test days, while maintaining their normal diet. Test days were separated by 7-day washout periods. Subjects reported the prevalence and magnitude of flatulence, borborygmi, bloating, colic, bowel movements and the passage of faeces of an abnormally watery consistency. Results: Compared with 45 g sucrose, consumption of a single oral, bolus dose of 50 g xylitol in water significantly increased the number of subjects reporting nausea (Po0.01), bloating (Po0.05), borborygmi (Po0.005), colic (Po0.05), watery faeces (Po0.05) and total bowel movement frequency (Po0.01). Also 35 g of xylitol increased significantly bowel movement frequency to pass watery faeces (Po0.05). In contrast, 50 g erythritol only significantly increased the number of subjects reporting nausea (Po0.01) and borborygmi (Po0.05). Lower doses of 20 and 35 g erythritol did not provoke a significant increase in GI symptoms. At all levels of intake, xylitol produced significantly more watery faeces than erythritol: resp. 50 g xylitol vs 35 g erythritol (Po0.001), 50 g xylitol vs 20 g erythritol (Po0.001) and 35 g xylitol vs 20 g erythritol (Po0.05). Conclusions: When consumed in water, 35 and 50 g xylitol was associated with significant intestinal symptom scores and watery faeces, compared to the sucrose control, whereas at all levels studied erythritol scored significantly less symptoms. Consumption of 20 and 35 g erythritol by healthy volunteers, in a liquid, is tolerated well, without any symptoms. At the highest level of erythritol intake (50 g), only a significant increase in borborygmi and nausea was observed, whereas xylitol intake at this level induced a significant increase in watery faeces. Sponsorship:

Sugar alcohols—their role in the modern world of sweeteners: a review

“…Occasionally noted temporary laxation and gastrointestinal discomfort [129,130] Not specified further metabolized to give energy in the amount of 2-2.4 calories per gram (Table 2). It was also found that lactitol is used as an energy source by special intestinal microflora in the colon, i.e., Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus spp [47,48].…”

Baking quality, sensory properties and shelf life of bread with polyols

“…Erythritol had a high digestive tolerance and was noncaloric, non carcinogenic and non glycaemic and had antioxidant properties, it fits well into the functional food concepts to which it confers a healthy image (Storey et al 2007). …”

“…Sorbitol has an antioxidizing effect and prevents fatty foods from turning rancid. Therefore, incorporation of polyols could be very useful to improve the texture and prolong the shelf life without staling (Storey et al 2007).…”

Gut hormone secretion, gastric emptying, and glycemic responses to erythritol and xylitol in lean and obese subjects

“…As a consequence, erythritol is better tolerated than xylitol, provoking less gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea and bloating. However, when erythritol is consumed as a single oral bolus exceeding 35 g, undesirable effects, including nausea and borborygmi, are common (18,19,25,37). Repetitive exposure appears to lead to increased tolerance through adaptive processes (23).…”