The sugar alcohols tend to pass through the GI system and exit with the stool. Because it is osmotically active, it will loosen the stool. At higher doses, it acts as an effective laxitive. There is some metabolism of the sugar alcohols by fecal bacteria but at that point, the sugar is fermented into gas rather than absorbed.
My wife’s poor grandmother suffered greatly when her well intentioned daughter substited sugar free candy for her regular candy. The poor old woman ended up in a nursing home for awhile because of intractible diarrhea and incontinence. After stopping the sugar free candy, she was able to move back home.
Fructose may indeed be a bad actor, but I would like to see more data. I remember when coffee got the blame for a multitude of ills.