Chewing Gum Sweeteners Lead to Dangerous Weight Loss

A sweetener called Sorbitol found in chewing gums may also act as a laxative and the excess may have unhealthy side effects. The warning comes from doctors who came across two patients who suffered from abdominal pains, excessive weight loss, and chronic diarrhea.

First, the doctors could not identify the cause of these conditions, but a detailed analysis of their eating habits showed they had something in common: they had too much chewing gum with sorbitol.

Sorbitol, also known as glucitol, is a sugar alcohol that the body metabolizes slowly. This compound may be found in sugar free mints, diet foods, cough syrups, chewing gum, ice creams, and diet drinks.

One patient consumed between eighteen and twenty grams of Sorbitol per day. This means up to eighteen sticks of gum per day. The other patient had about twenty sticks of gum per day and 200 grams of candies per day, which means a total daily intake of Sorbitol of thirty grams, according to the authors.

Once the Sorbitol intake was stopped, the patients achieved normal weight and diarrhea also subsided. Although details are included on the package of the foods that contain Sorbitol, consumers are unaware of its possible side-effects.

Sorbitol excess consumption may not only lead to chronic diarrhea, but also to a significant weight loss of almost twenty percent of the body weight.

Sorbitol is categorized as an emulsifier, humectant, and sweetener and has the E-number E420. This product may be used as a non-stimulant laxative, and has the role to stimulate bowel movements by drawing water into the large intestine. It can be either a suppository or an oral suspension.