When You’re Walking Down the Hall and You Drop Sorbitol
As my friends and readers can attest, I’m not the kind of guy who likes deliberately eating chemicals. So, imagine my feigned surprise when I researched the popular sugar substitute, Sorbitol.
Three decades of research show that Sorbitol commonly causes symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). These symptoms include bloating, cramps, and diarrhea (those of us who never quite matured could gather that from the headline above!).
Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It tastes like sugar and adds sweetness to foods, but isn’t absorbed in the body like sugar. It should pass right through the system, and usually does, which prevents any net carbohydrate gain. However, that doesn’t mean the body doesn’t attempt to process it at all.
I’ve linked to four different articles to the bottom this post. These articles all say basically the same thing: people experience IBS-related symptoms after consuming Sorbitol. One of the articles also mentions Olestra, a fat-substitute that can cause the same problems. Pretty interesting, and definitely scary.
But what is really interesting about the linked articles is that they were published in 1984, 1993, 1999, and in 2008, yet Sorbitol is still widely marketed without any sort of neon warning sign attached.
While I am demonizing Sorbitol specifically here, different people have complained about every sugar alcohol on the market. These include:
- Maltitol
- Xylitol
- Lactitol
- Mannitol
- Erythritol
So if you are thinking of trying any new sugar substitute, you should do so in very small amounts. Better yet, you should seriously think about if the few calories saved are worth the risks, and maybe just enjoy a smaller portion instead.
This is a great reason why you should be very selective about what you eat, and let other people be the guinea pigs! Too many products hit the market with minimal testing, only to be recalled or have a warning applied many years later.
Buyer beware! Choose organic or all-natural foods and ingredients whenever possible.
Resources (external links will open in a new window):
- Outbreak of Diarrhea Linked to Dietetic Candies - 1984
- Iatrogenic Diarrhea Caused by Sorbitol - 1993
- Effects of Olestra and Sorbitol Consumption on Diarrhea - 1999
- Chronic Diarrhea From Sorbitol May… - 2008
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March 21st, 2008 at 1:32 pm
use stevia instead!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:32 pm
STEVIA natural plant sweetener is the best substitute for sugar I have found. It is strong and so too much of it tastes disgusting in the same way at that pink packaged artificial sweetener, except STEVIA is natural, no headaches, it won’t hurt you, and does not process as sugar in the body. STEVIA is sold at Trader Joe’s for the cheapest, and more expensive at Whole Foods. All people with Diabetes and other sugar related problems should switch to that immediately! I also use honey which at least breaks down slower than sugar and has way more nutrients, and is not over-processed.
Thanks for your post on sorbital, I always wondered what the heck it was when I saw it on “sugar free” ice cream labels. One time I got super sick from eating a bag of “sugar free” gummies. Ack.
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March 24th, 2008 at 11:26 am
it’s important to note stevia is not found with the food products, at trader joe’s you can find it by the vitamins. it’s not FDA approved to be sold as food, so it’s sold as a “nutritional supplement.” they do have it in handly little single-packs so you can throw a few in a bag to bring with you to restaurants and such. BYO sweetener.
March 31st, 2008 at 9:47 am
Hi there, and thanks for stopping by my blog.
I have noticed that when my toddlers get their hands on a piece of gum from my purse, they get diarrhea. Then one day I was watching HOUSE (great show!) and Dr House told a patient who presented with diarrhea to stop chewing gum. I wonder how many people know this?
Great info you’re sharing here.
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