Sugar alcohols like erythritol have fewer calories than sugar and don’t cause as much stomach upset as other sugar substitutes — but eating too much can still give you gas or diarrhea.
Claim Context
Sugar alcohols such as erythritol and xylitol provide fewer calories than sucrose and are better tolerated than other polyols, but excessive intake can cause gastrointestinal symptoms including bloating and laxative effects.
“Sugar alcohols are only partially absorbed in the gut and due to their osmotic effects, polyols draw fluid into the large intestine. When consumed in excess amounts, polyols may cause a laxative effect... Erythritol, however, has been shown to be significantly better tolerated than other sugar alcohols...”
Evidence from Studies
No evidence studies found yet.
What Would Prove This
Per GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this claim, ordered from strongest to weakest.
Causal effect of erythritol dose on GI symptoms in healthy adults.
A double-blind, crossover RCT of 40 healthy adults consuming 10g, 20g, 30g, or 50g of erythritol vs. sucrose on separate days, with primary outcomes: GI symptoms (bloating, gas, diarrhea) measured by validated questionnaire and stool consistency (Bristol Scale).
Prevalence of GI symptoms in habitual consumers of sugar alcohols.
A cross-sectional survey of 2000 consumers of sugar-free products, assessing frequency of GI symptoms and correlating with daily intake of erythritol, xylitol, and maltitol via food diary.
Long-term association between sugar alcohol intake and chronic GI symptoms.
A 2-year prospective cohort of 1000 adults with IBS or functional GI disorders tracking daily sugar alcohol intake and symptom severity using daily diaries and validated scales.
Whether high sugar alcohol intake is associated with chronic diarrhea.
A matched case-control study of 150 adults with chronic diarrhea vs. 150 controls, assessing 6-month prior intake of sugar alcohols via FFQ and food logs.
Consensus on safe intake thresholds for regulatory labeling.
A technical opinion by EFSA or FDA’s FASAN panel reviewing human tolerance data to establish an ADI or threshold for labeling 'may cause laxative effect'.