Too much sugar-free gum linked to bowel problems

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSL1021384320080111

Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:09pm EST

LONDON (Reuters) - Consuming too much sorbitol, a sweetener widely used in "sugar-free" chewing gum and sweets, can cause serious bowel problems, German doctors said on Friday.

The warning follows the cases of two patients who suffered chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain and severe weight loss after ingesting large amounts of sorbitol.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, the doctors from Berlin said the patients -- a man and a woman -- had consumed some 15 to 20 sticks of chewing gum a day. When they kicked the habit, both regained normal bowel function.

Sorbitol, also known as E420, is poorly absorbed by the small intestine and is known to have laxative properties. But Dr Juergen Bauditz and colleagues of the University of Berlin said many consumers might fail to link it with their gastrointestinal problems.

"Our cases demonstrate that sorbitol consumption can cause not only chronic diarrhea and functional bowel complaints but also considerable unintended weight loss -- about 20 percent of usual body weight," they wrote.

(Reporting by Ben Hirschler)

have filling stockings for them on Christmas Eve.

There's always one of those metal puzzle thingies, some Hanuka gelt, chocolate santas, a Holiday Pez, hand sanitizer, herbal cold remedies, and anything new and small I find during the year.

Last year I threw in a bag of Werther's Originals caramel candies for each.

Apparently one bag was the sugarless kind.

Our younger son later said "Um, Mom, next time can you make those Werthers the regular kind?"

Seems he'd eaten nearly the whole bag in the first day and couldn't leave the house for the next two!

Bad Mom!

No artificial sweeteners, though they'd sure take the calories out of my love for Coke... They make me sick!

But as far as the weight loss, I once read that by chewing gum everyday , one could lose 11 pounds a year!

which is the generic name for those types of sweeteners. Apparently, they taste very sweet, but are not metabolized as carbohydrates (or alcohols either). In 2003 I was trying to lose a few pounds, and saw sugar-free Hershey's chunk candies at my grocery store. Wonderful!!! Guilt-free chocolate!!! I ate half the package and was up all the next night in the bathroom. Instead of saying "Hershey's" on top, those pieces should have said "ExLax"!

n/t

and the thought of getting a good chocolate fix was just too much! LOL! Half a package = about 8 pieces= unforgettable night in the bathroom.....no more for me, thanks!

When I took my diabetic class, they discussed this at length to warn about the sugar free candy.

:think: But, is it worth the :hurts: ?