Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is added to gum to as an alternative to sugar. Xylitol provides fewer calories than sugar and contains ingredients that help to prevent cavities, which makes xylitol gum desirable. Xylitol prevents bacteria from adhering to the teeth, resulting in less cavities. Side effects can occur with the use of xylitol gum, however.
Diarrhea
A side effect of chewing xylitol gum is diarrhea. A study in the 1981 "Annual Review of Nutrition" identifies osmotic diarrhea as an adverse effect of xylitol. Another study in a 1995 article in the journal "Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy" explains that diarrhea occurs because absorption of xylitol from the gut is slow.
Stomach Discomfort
Stomach discomfort is a potential side effect for the use of xylitol gum if too much is consumed. Too much refers to a single serving of 30 g or more, according to the Designs for Health newsletter. The gastrointestinal discomfort is usually temporary and is seen more in gum made with xylitol syrup rather than xylitol powder.
Oral Erosive Eczema
Symptoms of oral erosive eczema involve lips being dry, crusted, fissured and infected, explains a study in the 2007 "Current Allergy and Clinical Immunology." This only occurs in circumstances of overdose, according to a study in the 2005 "British Journal of Dermatology." An overdose is rare, but dosage guidelines listed on the gum packages should be followed.
References
- AnnualReviews.org: Nutritional Significance of Fructose and Sugar Alcohols
- PubMed Central: Effect of Xylitol on Growth of Nasopharyngeal Bacteria In Vitro
- PubMed: Xylitol as a Causative Agent of Oral Erosive Eczema
- Designs for Health: Xylitol: The Sweet Taste That's Good for You
- "Current Allergy and Clinical Immunology"; Perioral Eczema and Perioral Dermatitis; M.E. Docrat; 2007
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