The natural sweetener xylitol was discovered in 1891 and used during sugar shortages in World War II. Food and supplement manufacturers have been including xylitol in products since the 1960s, primarily to fight tooth decay. As xylitol has become cheaper to produce, more products containing the sweetener have come onto the market to help meet the demand for lower-calorie versions of popular foods.
Identification
Xylitol is a natural sweetener found in berries, corn, birch trees and other plants; your body also produces about 15 g of xylitol as part of metabolism every day. Xylitol is a white crystal form of carbohydrate, classified as a sugar alcohol, that has 10 calories per teaspoon versus 15 calories per teaspoon in table sugar. Research at the University of Washington in 2000 found that 84 percent of children ages 3 to 6 rated five of six foods containing xylitol as tasting very good or satisfactory.
Benefits
Xylitol has been used in food products to fight tooth decay; gum containing at least 36 percent xylitol can significantly reduce your risk for cavities, according to an article in "Evidence-Based Dentistry." Xylitol-containing products given to children after meals can also help reduce the number of ear infections they contract. Xylitol is safe for diabetics because it has minimal effects on blood sugar and insulin release, and a study published in the "Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology" in 2010 also found xylitol reduced high cholesterol in diabetic rats. Xylitol may prove to be helpful in fighting osteoporosis; research reported in the January 2011 issue "Odontology" showed that xylitol appears to affect bone metabolism and was able to increase bone density in rat femurs.
Xylitol Products
Due to its cavity-fighting properties, most food products containing xylitol are mints, candy and chewing gum. In fact, xylitol was in 50 percent of commercial chewing gum in Europe and Asia as of July 2011. Other foods containing xylitol are not as readily available, with most sold in health food stores or online stores. Some companies offer baked goods such as muffins, cakes, pies and cookies; various jams and jellies; barbecue sauce, syrup and honey; and meal replacement bars.
Considerations
There are no serious side effects from moderate xylitol use up to 20 g per day for children and 50 g per day for adults. Side effects that do occur usually involve nausea, intestinal bloating, gas and diarrhea. Many xylitol formulas come from birch trees and therefore may cause an allergic reaction if you have a birch sensitivity.
References
- RaySahelian; Xylitol; Ray Sahelian, M.D.
- Drugs; Xylitol; 2009
- "Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology; Antihyperlipidemic Activity of 3-hydroxymethyl xylitol, a Novel Antidiabetic Compound Isolated from Casearia Esculenta (Roxb.) Root, in Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rats; G. Chandramohan, et al.; Mar-Apr 2010
- "Odontology"; The Effects of Oral Xylitol Administration on Bone Density in Rat Femur; H. Sato, et al.; January 2011
- "Evidence-Based Denistry"; Xylitol Gum, Plaque Ph and Mutans Streptococci; B. Duane; 2010
- "Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology"; Children's Acceptance Of Xylitol-Based Foods; M. Lam, et al.; April 2000
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