Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that occurs naturally in some fruits, vegetables, woody plants and mushrooms. According to Elson Haas, M.D., author of "Staying Healthy with Nutrition," xylitol is commonly used by food and confection manufacturers as a bulk sweetener that does not promote tooth decay. Most of the xylitol used by industry is obtained from the fiber of birch trees, hence xylitol's popular name, "birch sugar." Xylitol's potential benefits in diabetes and oral health are areas of active research.
Xylitol Reduces Glycemic Load
Glycemic index is a measure of how quickly your blood glucose rises after you consume a standard amount of a specific food. Glycemic load determines the carbohydrate content of that food based on its glycemic index and the portion size. This is an important concept for diabetics, who strive to keep their daily glycemic load to a minimum. Xylitol has a glycemic index of 13, compared to 100 for glucose and 65 for table sugar. While chewing sugared gum may not contribute a great deal to each day's glycemic load, a 2003 "Nutrition Research Reviews" study showed that a diabetic's long-term blood glucose control can be improved by reducing daily glycemic load as little as 15 to 20 grams.
Xylitol and Oral Health
Dental caries result from bacterial fermentation of organic material that resides in the crevices on and around your teeth. This bacterial activity generates acidic compounds that erode the enamel on your teeth, eventually leading to cavity formation. A 1998 review in "British Dental Journal" reports that oral bacteria are unable to ferment xylitol, which significantly reduces their growth and metabolism. This, in combination with the increased salivary production associated with gum chewing, makes xylitol gum an effective anti-caries agent. This same antibacterial activity reduces plaque formation and lessens your risk for periodontal disease.
Xylitol for Ear Infections
The December 2007 "American Family Physician" reports that acute otitis media, or middle ear infection, is the most common childhood infection for which antibiotics are prescribed in the U.S. Clinical trials have demonstrated that day-care children who chew xylitol gum suffer fewer episodes of otitis media. A 2009 study published in "Journal of Medical Microbiology" suggests that xylitol inhibits the growth and adhesion of bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, that cause ear infections.
Considerations
Xylitol gum confers several benefits, the most well-publicized being the prevention of caries and a reduction in your risk for periodontal disease. Diabetics who are frequent gum chewers may experience some improvement in glycemic control by switching to xylitol gums, although such a benefit will probably be small. Children who are old enough to chew gum and who are at risk for ear infections -- they have a history of previous infections, live with smokers or are exposed to groups of other children -- may reduce their risk for recurrent otitis media by chewing xylitol gum.
References
- "Staying Healthy with Nutrition: Xylose"; Elson M. Haas, M.D.; 2006
- "Nutrition Research Reviews"; Health Potential of Polyols as Sugar Replacers, with Emphasis on Low Glycaemic Properties; G. Livesey; December 2003
- "British Dental Journal"; Sugar Substitutes, Chewing Gum, and Dental Caries -- A Review; W.M. Edgar; January 1998
- "American Family Physician"; Diagnosis and Treatment of Otitis Media; R. Kalyanakrishnan, et al.; December 2007
- "Journal of Medical Microbiology"; Xylitol and Capsular Gene Expression in Streptococcus pneumoniae; P. Kurola, et al.; November 2009
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