What Are the Dangers of Erythritol?

Excessive intake of erythritol may cause:

• Bloating
• Flatulence
• Diarrhea or increased stool frequency
• Worsened symptoms of:
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Ulcerative colitis
• Allergic reactions, which can cause:
  • Hives
  • Rash
  • Swelling
  • Choking

The consumption of all NNS including erythritol is associated with bacterial dysbiosis. This means that NNS can potentially kill good bacteria in the gut and change its microbiome. The extent to which each NNS affects the microbial gut biome is different and subject to further research.

However, this can hypothetically impact the brain-gut signaling and cause the following consequences in the long term:

• Impaired insulin sensitivity
• Increased insulin resistance
• Food cravings and associated weight gain
• Abnormal lipid profile

These changes may make people susceptible to metabolic diseases, such as:

• Diabetes mellitus
• Cardiovascular diseases 
• Abnormal lipid profile

You should also avoid erythritol if intending to undergo bariatric surgery. NNS may dampen your sweet taste threshold and affect your satiety post-surgery.

Erythritol is not the same as stevia. Both belong to the NNS category, but erythritol is an alcohol produced by the fermentation of sugars while stevia is obtained from the leaves of a shrub called Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni).

The FDA has approved erythritol as a sweetener since 2001. There is no current evidence that erythritol causes cancer, but as it is a relatively new NNS, further research is needed.

Though it is declared safe for pregnant and lactating women, it is best to consult with your gynecologist before consuming NNS.

There are no official guidelines regarding erythritol consumption, but most people can safely ingest about 1 gram of erythritol per 2 pounds of body weight a day.

While the DDA has declared all nonnutritive sweeteners safe for consumption, no sugar substitute is better than others. Moderation is the key.

Consumption of excess sugar can cause weight gain, food cravings, blood sugar spikes, and fatty liver. Glucotoxicity can eventually increase the risk of developing diabetes mellitus and damage organs, including the liver and blood vessels. 

Though honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, and dates are often touted as healthier alternatives to table sugar, studies have found no significant benefits to these over table sugar.