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Health benefits of Xylitol

Mar 9，2022

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol which provides 100% of the sugar sweetness of sucrose and has been shown to inhibit growth of some types of oral bacteria (International Food Information Council Foundation. Greiner (2005) investigated the use of a 10% xylitol wash against Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 on the surface of beef carcasses. At a 10% concentration, xylitol did not inhibit pathogen attachment to beef tissue when applied before inoculation, nor did it increase the efficacy of a 2.5% l-lactic acid or water spray (35°C) in reducing pathogen contamination after inoculation.

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Health benefits

Xylitol has a chemical structure similar to sugar, but has fewer calories; while sugar has about 4 calories per gram, xylitol has just 2.4. Although it’s lower in calories, xylitol is equal to the sweetness of sugar. This makes xylitol unique because most sugar alcohols are not as sweet as sugar.

Xylitol is known to inhibit the growth of oral bacteria (mutans streptococci) in plaque and saliva. The act of chewing gum promotes the flow of saliva, which naturally protects teeth from cavity-causing bacteria. Based on a large amount of scientific evidence both the American Dental Association and the FDAhave recognized xylitol as beneficial to oral health. Other health benefits of xylitol stem from its differences in chemical structure compared to sugar. Unlike sugar, xylitol is slowly and incompletely absorbed in the small intestine. This makes it and other sugar alcohols helpful for people with diabetes. Once absorbed, it can be used for energy while using little or no insulin, which means the impact on blood sugar is minimal.

Bacteria in the large intestine ferment any unabsorbed xylitol that passes through the small intestine. Because of this, overconsumption can produce abdominal gas and discomfort. For those following a low Fermentable Oligosaccharides Disaccharides Monosaccharides And Polyols (FODMAP) diet, food sources of xylitol are monitored because xylitol is a type of polyol.

Has xylitol been evaluated for safety

Xylitol has been approved for safety by a number of agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization’s Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives and the European Union’s Scientific Committee for Food. Xylitol has been shown to have decay-preventive qualities, especially for people at moderate to high risk for decay, when used as part of an overall strategy for decay reduction that also includes a healthy diet and good home care. Consult your CDA member dentist to help you determine if xylitol use would be beneficial for you.

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