What are the Facts about Erythritol?

• Erythritol is a naturally-derived sugar substitute that looks and tastes very much like sugar, yet has almost no calories. It is available in granulated and powdered forms.
• Erythritol has been used in Japan since 1990 in candies, chocolate, yogurt, fillings, jellies, jams, beverages, and as a sugar substitute.
• Erythritol is classified as a sugar alcohol. Sugar alcohols, also called polyols, are sugar substitutes that are either extracted from plants or manufactured from starches.
• Some of the more common sugar alcohol sweeteners are sorbitol and xylitol.
• Sugar alcohols also occur naturally in plants. Erythritol is found naturally in small amounts in grapes, melons, mushrooms, and fermented foods such as wine, beer, cheese, and soy sauce.
  

  How Sweet is Erythritol?

• Erythritol is approximately 70 percent as sweet as table sugar (sucrose). Some manufacturers, however, claim that their erythritol products are as sweet as sugar.

        How Is It Made?

• Erythritol is usually made from plant sugars. Sugar is mixed with water and then fermented with a natural culture into erythritol. It is then filtered, allowed to crystallize, and then dried. The finished product is white granules or powder that resembles sugar.
  

  Why Do People Use Erythritol?

• Erythritol has almost no calories. In the United States, erythritol is labeled as having 0.2 calories per gram, which is 95 percent fewer calories than sugar. In Japan, erythritol is labeled as having zero calories.
• Erythritol has not been found to affect blood sugar or insulin levels and has a zero glycemic index.
• Erythritol has a sweet taste. Some say it tastes more like sugar than other natural sweeteners such as stevia (which can be bitter) while others dislike the taste.
• In small amounts, erythritol is not supposed to cause digestive upset and diarrhea that other sugar alcohols like sorbitol and xylitol are known to cause, because erythritol is a smaller molecule and 90 percent of erythritol is absorbed in the small intestine and excreted for the most part unchanged in urine. This quality makes erythritol unique among the sugar alcohols. Many people, however, report side effects such as diarrhea, stomach upset, and headache after consuming normal amounts of erythritol in food or beverages.
• Erythritol isn’t metabolized by oral bacteria, which means that it doesn’t contribute to tooth decay. Erythritol was approved for use as a sugar substitute in Japan in 1990. In the United States, it is classified as being Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) since 1997. It was approved in Australia and New Zealand in 1999.

• Cautions

  Excessive consumption of erythritol (over 80 grams per day) may result in digestive upset, diarrhea, and bloating. Other downsides:

• Erythritol has a cooling effect on the mouth, unlike sugar.
• Erythritol isn’t as sweet as sugar. It is approximately 70 percent as sweet.
• Erythritol doesn’t dissolve as easily as sugar.
• Erythritol causes side effects such as diarrhea, headache, and stomachache in lower amounts in some people
• Erythritol still isn’t easy to find. Currently it is available online and in some health food stores and groceries.

Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.

Source: Cathy Wong, ND, “Erythritol: Benefits, Uses, and More”, 19  December 2014, http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/erythritol.htm