Metabolic effects of the natural sweeteners xylitol and erythritol: A comprehensive review

Jun 18, 2019Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Metabolic effects of the natural sweeteners xylitol and erythritol

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Abstract

This review analyzes the anti-diabetic potential of xylitol and erythritol based on studies published since the 1960s.

Xylitol and erythritol have been used as sugar substitutes in food and oral care products.
Research on erythritol's health benefits began in the early 1990s, while xylitol has been studied since the 1960s.
Previous studies primarily examined the effects of these sugar alcohols on oral and dental health.
Recent findings suggest that xylitol and erythritol may also have anti-diabetic and antihyperglycemic effects.
This review evaluates the metabolic effects of xylitol and erythritol, focusing on their potential as dietary supplements for diabetes management.

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Xylitol and erythritol are widely used in a variety of food and oral care products as sugar substitutes. Although a number of studies have been conducted on the health benefits of xylitol since the 1960s, erythritol only attracted the attention of researchers during the early 1990s. Historically, researchers mainly focused on the effects of xylitol and other sugar alcohols on oral and dental healthcare while the anti-diabetic or antihyperglycemic effects have only been revealed recently. Though a few reviews have been published on the health benefits of sugar alcohols in the last few decades, none of them closely evaluated the antihyperglycemic potential and underlying mechanisms, particularly with a focus on xylitol and erythritol. The current review thoroughly analyzes the anti-diabetic and antihyperglycemic effects as well as other metabolic effects of xylitol and erythritol using articles published in PubMed since the 1960s, containing research done on experimental animals and humans. This review will help researchers ascertain the controversies surrounding sugar alcohols, investigate further beneficial effects of them as well as aid food industries in exploring the possibilities of using sugar alcohols as anti-diabetic supplements in diabetic foods and food products.

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Metabolic effects of the natural sweeteners xylitol and erythritol: A comprehensive review

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