Your Questions Answered

Polyols are sugar-free sweeteners. Polyols are carbohydrates but they are not sugars. They are used cup-for-cup (volume-for-volume) in the same amount as sugar is used, unlike acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose which are used in very small amounts.

Since “polyols” is not a consumer friendly term, many nutritionists and health educators refer to polyols as “sugar replacers” when communicating with consumers. Scientists call them sugar alcohols because part of their structure chemically resembles sugar and part is similar to alcohols. However, these sugar-free sweeteners are neither sugars nor alcohols, as these words are commonly used. Other terms used primarily by scientists are polyhydric alcohols and polyalcohols.

Those currently used in foods in the U.S. are erythritol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates (including maltitol syrups), isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol and xylitol.

In the U.S., they are now used in a wide range of products, including chewing gums, candies, ice cream, baked goods and fruit spreads. They are also used in toothpastes, mouthwashes, breath mints and pharmaceuticals such as cough syrups or drops and throat lozenges.

Sugar replacers (polyols) function well in fillings and frostings, canned fruits, beverages, yogurt and tabletop sweeteners. Also, some functional foods or nutraceuticals are sweetened with them.

Sugar replacers (polyols) provide fewer calories per gram than does sugar, they do not promote tooth decay and they do not cause sudden increases in blood glucose levels. Because they taste good, people can improve the healthfulness of their diets without having to sacrifice the pleasure of eating sweet foods they enjoy.

For the vast majority of consumers, these sweeteners do not cause a problem. In some people, excessive consumption may cause gastrointestinal effects, such as gas or laxative effects, similar to reactions to beans and certain high-fiber foods. Such effects depend on an individual’s sensitivity and the other foods eaten at the same time.

Gastrointestinal effects, if they occur at all, are usually mild and temporary. If a person believes she/he is sensitive, the amount eaten on a single occasion should be reduced. Most people will adapt after a few days, the same way they do to high fiber foods. Many people with diabetes, for example, have learned from their health professional to eat only a small amount of sugar-free products containing polyols at first and then to gradually increase these foods in the diet.

Sugar replacers (polyols) have been used in foods around the world for many years. An Expert Committee of the World Health Organization has carefully reviewed them and concluded that they are safe for human consumption! In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies some as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and others are approved food additives.

Sugar provides approximately 4.0 calories per gram. The FDA allows the use of the following caloric values:

Sugar replacers (polyols) usually do not absorb water the way sugar does; therefore, foods made with them do not become sticky on the surface as quickly as do products made with sugar. Molds and bacteria do not grow as well on these sweeteners, as they do on sugar, and so products last longer. When used in medicines, they generally do not react with pharmacologic ingredients as much as sometimes happens with sugar.

Sugar replacers (polyols) generally do not lose their sweetness when they are heated and can be used to flavor hot beverages and in foods that are heated when processed or cooked. However, unlike sugar, they do not usually give a crisp brown surface to foods which are baked. 2 The non-browning property is an advantage for products for which a change in color is not desired.

Xylitol is a sweetener used to replace sugar in products such as sugar-free gums and candies. The use of xylitol can be beneficial as it does not promote tooth decay and has a very low effect on insulin secretion, which is especially important to diabetics. Numerous studies document the safety of xylitol for humans. This research has been carefully reviewed and xylitol is deemed as safe for human consumption by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and many other global regulatory organizations. Xylitol is approved for use in numerous countries around the world. Some foods that may be safe for humans to eat are not digested by dogs in the same way.

Although the safety of xylitol for humans is well established, it should not be consumed by dogs. Xylitol can stimulate insulin release in dogs, putting them at risk for hypoglycemia. Some veterinarians have reported concern of liver damage associated with high consumption of xylitol. These reports need further study to confirm a link between xylitol and canine liver damage.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), in their brochure “Household Hazards,” states, “Every home contains a variety of everyday items and substances that can be dangerous or even fatal if ingested by dogs and cats. You can protect your pet’s health by becoming aware of the most common health hazards found in many pet-owning households.” The list provided by the AVMA includes food items, cleaning products, toiletries, and houseplants. AVMA’s list of common food items that are safe for humans but not safe for pets, includes coffee grounds, chocolate, macadamia nuts, onions, fatty foods, and chewing gum, candy and breath fresheners made with xylitol. AVMA recommends that pet owners keep these and other items away from pets. Please refer to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s “Household Hazards” brochure for more information on safeguarding your pet’s environment. Read the AVMA’s Household Hazards (PDF) brochure.

The Veterinary Center for America (VCA) also provides information about xylitol toxicity in dogs on their website. VCA recommends that dog owners be aware of any products that they use that contain xylitol and ensure that these are kept out of reach of dogs. The website also offers contact information for the Pet Poison Helpline, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The bottom line is that xylitol and products containing xylitol are safe for humans, but should not be consumed by dogs.

Sugar replacers (polyols) are slowly and incompletely absorbed from the small intestine into the blood. The portion that is absorbed is metabolized by processes that require little or no insulin. Some of the portion that is not absorbed into the blood is broken down into smaller segments in the large intestine. 3

Sugar replacers (polyols) are not readily converted to acids by bacteria in the mouth and, therefore, do not promote tooth decay. The FDA has authorized the use of the “does not promote tooth decay” health claim for food products containing erythritol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, or a combination of these. The American Dental Association has adopted a position statement recognizing the role of sugar-free foods and medications in maintaining good oral health.

Because these sweeteners have lower caloric values, they may help people with diabetes achieve their weight goals. Non-cariogenic throat lozenges may also be useful if a person’s medications cause dryness of the mouth.

Sugar replacers (polyols) also cause smaller increases in blood glucose and insulin levels than do sugars and other carbohydrates. Therefore, snacks sweetened with them may be useful. People with diabetes should consult their physician or other health professional about the usefulness of sugar replacers (polyols) in their daily meal plan.

Experts in diabetes management advise that if less than 10 grams of sugar replacers (polyols) is consumed, that serving is considered a “free food.” Above 10 grams, subtract half of the grams of sugar replacers (polyols) from the grams of total carbohydrate and then calculate the exchanges.

The name of the polyol appears in the ingredient list. The words “sugar alcohol” or the specific name of the polyol may also appear in the Nutrition Facts label.

The grams in a serving may be shown voluntarily. If a claim such as “sugar free” is made on the label, the polyol content must be shown in the Nutrition Facts label. FDA regulations specify that the name of the specific polyol may appear in the Nutrition Facts Label if only one polyol is in the food. If more than one is in the food, the term “sugar alcohols” must be used. FDA is considering whether the term “polyol” would be less confusing to consumers than “sugar alcohol.”

Sweetness varies among the sugar replacers (polyols) and depends in part on the products in which they are used. They vary in sweetness from about half as sweet as the same amount of sugar to equally as sweet as sugar. Sometimes combining sugar replacers (polyols) gives a more pleasant taste.

Sugar replacers (polyols) are frequently combined with other alternative sweeteners, such as acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin and sucralose, in sugar-free chewing gums, candies, frozen desserts and baked goods. The sugar replacer (polyol) gives these foods mild sweetness as well as the bulk and texture of sugar; the other alternative sweeteners bring the sweetness up to the level consumers expect.