Too much sugar-free gum linked to bowel problems

Reuters ^ | Jan. 11, 2008 | Staff

[jdm]

LONDON, Jan 11 (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 diarrhoea, 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 diarrhoea and functional bowel complaints but also considerable unintended weight loss -- about 20 percent of usual body weight," they wrote.

[Pylon]

That’s why I just drink tequila, same effects on my stomach but more fun.

[ShadowDancer]

Tar?

[greyfoxx39]

Speaking from experience, I would advise anyone with bowel problems to avoid ALL sugarless candy, desserts, etc. with the sorbitol ingredient listed, especially if you have had gall bladder removal.

[gramcam]

I gotta say it!!! I have to say it!!!
“SHIT”
Okay, I have said it!!!

---

Thanks bunches for the laugh. Just had a big argument w/ my hubby of 40+ yrs - I mean big time, I was slammin’ doors and drawers - whatEver! Haven’t been that angry in a decade. I was certain I wasn’t gonna’ even smile for at LEAST a week. And here I am giggling.

Michigan Grandma

[tuffydoodle]

read later..

[CARDINALRULES]

You can't even find any chewing gums (other than the ones for blowing bubbles) that doesn't have that junk in it, even if not "sugar-free".

[jmyrlefuller]

...they’re right.

Once upon a time I was munching on some sugarfree candies and didn’t watch how many I had eaten... had the $#!+$ the rest of the day.

[Iron Munro]

This should really be looked into a little more deeply.

[MarkL]

Sorbitol is also sometimes known as “sugar alcohol.” It’s in many diet products. As someone who has Crohns disease, I have to be sure that it’s not in anything I eat because of the rather violent laxative effect.

Mark

[Titan Magroyne]

Not to make light of your Crohns at all, but my body's reaction to a diabetes diet read "Our cases demonstrate that sorbitol consumption can cause not only chronic diarrhoea and functional bowel complaints but also considerable unintended weight loss -- about 20 percent of usual body weight," as a darn good thing! :-D And I really could stand to lose some weight.

[pbmaltzman]

Isn’t that the same stuff that is in Airborne?

Dunno. Next time I see Airborne somewhere, I'll check out the list of ingredients.

[pbmaltzman]

15 to 20 sticks a day? Do regular people chew that much gum?

Don't know whether to consider them "regular" or not (pun intended), but, yes, there are people who are never without gum in their mouths. Personally, I avoid them, because I find gum-chewing to be a highly obnoxious habit.

I have gone to a couple of church weddings, and there were people there with their jaws masticating all through the ceremony. One of these slobs was the mother of the groom.

[Mr. Jazzy]

This is news?

This has been known for YEARS and these doc THINK it MIGHT be a problem to consume too much?

Want to fix the problem? DON’T EAT TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING!!!