Everything you need to know about Erythritol

People who are cutting calories for weight loss or monitoring their sugar intake may need to replace sugar in their diet. There are a variety of options to choose as sugar substitutes, both natural and artificial, Erythritol being one of these. Non artificial sugar substitutes include sugar alcohols and natural sweeteners, such as stevia, monk fruit extract, and more. These options contain half or less of the calories of regular sugar. It is a type of sugar alcohol that occurs naturally in some fruits and fermented foods, while manufacturers add a industrially fermented version to low sugar and sugar-free food and drink options. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved erythritol for use as a food additive in the U.S. in 2001.

Research

Erythritol has benefits as a sugar replacement.  People with diabetes manage their condition by following a diet that is low in sugar. Alternative sweeteners such as erythritol can make this easier by replacing sugar without sacrificing sweetness. Older studies from 1994 and 2003 suggest that erythritol does not have a significant effect on blood sugar levels.

 A 2019 study suggested that replacing sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose with erythritol could improve post-meal blood pressure. A 2010 study in rats with diabetes went so far as to suggest that erythritol could serve as an antioxidant that may protect the blood vessels against damage from diabetes. A 2014 study suggested that Erythritol is harmful to fruit flies. As such, agricultural companies may be able to use it as an effective pesticide that is safe for human consumption. Erythritol is unlikely to be harmful when people consume it in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Erythritol and digestive ailments

Some sugar alcohols can cause gastrointestinal distress, as the body does not fully absorb these alcohols. However, erythritol seems to cause fewer of these problems in comparison to other sugar alcohols. This advantage may be because the upper small intestine absorbs about 90% of the erythritol from where it passes to the bloodstream before the body excretes it in the urine. Erythritol does not attract water into the small intestines, leading to osmotic diarrhea, as other sugar alcohols do. Also, gut bacteria do not ferment it in the colon. One 2007 study compared the digestive effects of table sugar with erythritol and another sugar alcohol called xylitol. The study subjects consuming xylitol experienced diarrhea, nausea, and bloating. Those who took erythritol experienced significantly fewer symptoms.