Q: What are sugar alcohols?
A: Sugar alcohols occur naturally in some fruits and vegetables and are also a man-made ingredient commonly used as a substitute for sugar in foods. Despite their name, they do not contain ethanol, found in alcoholic beverages. Their chemical structure looks similar to the chemical structure of both sugar and alcohol, hence the name.
There are a number of different sugar alcohols used in products like gum, jelly spreads, beverages, candy, and toothpaste. If you read nutrition labels you will most often find the sugar alcohols xylitol, erythritol, sorbitol, or maltitol listed in the ingredients.
Sugar alcohols contain fewer calories than sugar and are only partially digested so they have less of an effect on blood sugars. Sugar alcohols can help prevent tooth decay and they may exert potential benefits on the gut. In addition, sugar alcohols in food also add texture, moisture, and prevent browning when heated.
If consumed in large amounts, sugar alcohols may contribute to gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Just like sugar alcohols differ in their calories and taste, they also differ in how much GI distress they can cause.
