Sorbitol -- a low-calorie sweetener naturally found in fruits, but industrially produced for addition in foods -- is a sugar alcohol similar to mannitol, xylitol and erythritol. Sorbitol is commonly found in dietetic foods, candy and gum labeled "no sugar added" or "sugar free." Sorbitol is not completely digestible, which reduces the amount of calories it adds to food, but it's not calorie-free -- it contains approximately 2 calories per gram compared to the 4 calories per gram from regular carbohydrates.
Gas and Diarrhea
Sorbitol is not easily or completely digested, and through the process of osmosis, unabsorbed sorbitol draws water into the intestines. This can lead to gas, bloating, flatulence and diarrhea. Because of this, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires sorbitol-containing products to carry a warning that excess consumption may have a laxative effect, according to IDEA Health and Fitness Association. The warning is required only if the product might be consumed in an amount that could lead to ingestion of 50 g or more of sorbitol, the amount likely to cause gastrointestinal upset. If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, sorbitol and other sugar alcohols can trigger -- or worsen -- your symptoms.
High Blood Sugar
People with diabetes may incorrectly believe products containing sorbitol labeled "no sugar added" or "sugar free" won't affect their blood sugar. This is a dangerous misunderstanding that could lead to significantly elevated blood sugar levels, according to Joslin Diabetes Center. The calories and carbohydrates in foods containing sorbitol -- or any other sugar alcohol -- must be added in to the total allowed amounts of a diabetic person's meal plan. Read the nutrition label and look for sorbitol on the ingredient list; also look at the total carbohydrate grams per serving.
Danger for People with Fructose Intolerance
Sorbitol -- which is converted into fructose during digestion -- is dangerous for people with hereditary fructose intolerance, a rare disorder that can lead to kidney and liver damage, according to MayoClinic.com. Sorbitol can also cause abdominal pain, bloating, gas and diarrhea for people with fructose malabsorption.
References
- PeaceHealth: Diarrhea
- IDEA Health and Fitness Association: Surviving the Low-Carb Craze
- Joslin Diabetes Center: What Are Sugar Alcohols?
- MayoClinic.com: Fructose Intolerance: Which Foods Should I Avoid?
- Eatright.org: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Center for Science in the Public Interest: Food Products Containing Sorbitol
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