New risk flagged for sugar substitutes

Science

GORM-8-SY

New risk flagged for sugar substitutes

A study says one common sugar substitute may have an overlooked downside.

^PublicHealth^^Metabolism^^NutritionScience^^Science^

ScienceDaily

Scientists discover a hidden problem with this popular sugar substitute

Sorbitol, a sugar alcohol commonly used in sugar-free candy, gum, and other low-calorie foods, may not be as harmless as it seems. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found that the body can convert sorbitol into a form of fructose in the liver, potentially triggering some of the same harmful metabolic effects linked to fructose.

Context

Science Daily says researchers uncovered a hidden problem with a popular sugar substitute, adding a new data point to debates over non-sugar sweeteners. The key question now is whether the effect holds across broader testing.

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