Xylitol and fructose are natural sweeteners. Xylitol gives you a low-calorie alternative to sugar. Food manufacturers use high-fructose corn syrup to sweeten products such as soda and juice drinks. While research associates xylitol with preventing dental cavities and osteoporosis, fructose consumption is associated with increased obesity, diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, according to the April 2011 issue of the “Harvard Health Newsletter.”
Xylitol
A German scientist discovered xylitol in 1891, according to Drugs.com. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved xylitol as a food additive in 1963 and it appears on the list of ingredients in food, pharmaceuticals, chewing gum and other products. Consult a medical professional before using xylitol if you take laxatives.
Cancer
Xylitol and fructose have different effects on a beta-glucosidase scientists call bglG, according to a study from the University of Sfax in Tunisia and reported in the September 2011 issue of the journal “Carbohydrate Research.” Beta-glucosidases are enzymes found in minute amounts all over your body. However, because beta-glucosidases occur in large quantities in the presence of a malignant cancer tumor, researchers wanted find out how to reduce the body’s production of this enzyme. The results of the study show fructose has no effect on bglG activity, while xylitol enhances the activity of bglG by 120 percent.
Acetaldehyde Reduction
Both xylitol and fructose reduce acetaldehyde production in Candida, according to a study from the University of Helsinki in Finland and reported in the December 2010 issue of the “International Journal of Cancer.” The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies acetaldehyde as a Class I carcinogen. A by-product of alcohol fermentation and digestion that causes hangovers, acetaldehyde also occurs naturally in some foods, including wine and roasted coffee beans. Researchers tested the effect of both xylitol and fructose on acetaldehyde. Xylitol reduced acetaldehyde production by 84 percent and fructose reduced acetaldehyde production by 29 percent.
Dental Aspects
Diets containing xylitol and fructose produce fewer dental caries in comparison to sucrose, according to a study from University of Turku in Finland reported in the March 1976 issue of the “International Dental Journal.” Researchers divided 126 subjects into three groups. Each group received strict instructions to use sucrose, fructose or xylitol as a sweetener for two years. In comparison to sucrose, the xylitol group had about 90 percent less caries and 50 percent less dental plaque. Compared to sucrose, the fructose group had 30 percent fewer caries, but no difference in the amount of dental plaque.
References
- University of San Diego Moores Cancer Center: Laetrile
- Carbohydrate Research: Hydroxyl Distribution In Sugar Structure and Its Contributory Role In The Inhibition Of Stachybotrys Microspora β-Glucosidase (bglG)
- International Journal of Cancer: Xylitol Inhibits Carcinogenic Acetaldehyde Production By Candida Species
- Environmental Protection Agency: Acetaldehyde
- International Dental Journal: Dental Aspects Of the Consumption Of Xylitol and Fructose Diets
- Drugs.com: Xylitol
- Harvard Health Newsletter: Is Fructose Bad For You?
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