Posted on 01/10/2008 4:17:03 PM PST by 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.
Aspertame gives me a instant headache.
If sugar free gum is out...what’s left?
If sugar free gum is out...what’s left?
__________________
You can always start smoking.
If someone's gotta chew gum and be obnoxious about it (open-mouthed, making noise), I can't think of a more poetic form of justice than the runs.
15 to 20 sticks a day? Do regular people chew that much gum?
FDA Warning Unintended weight loss
Sorbitol has been known for years for it’s laxative effect...Just restating the obvious.
I heard a doctor state that "kids should never have it" and thought if it's not good for kids, then why is it acceptable for the rest of us?
Note to self: the product was “Velamint” not Valomilk which is a great candy.
Is this why the gay community buys so much Juicy Fruit?
My jaw would break !
Yes. Get the Walgreens knock-off "Walborne", instead - it uses sucralose and any laxative effect is thus greatly minimized.
It doesn't take anywhere near that much sorbitol to cause serious gastro-intestinal problems in a lot of people.
"I have to go to the bathroom all the time."
"How many packs?"
"I used to smoke two packs a day."
"No, the sugarless gum. It contains sorbitol. We use that here for a laxative."
WTF??? We've known this for like 25 years now? Somebody PAID for research on this?
hahaha, deal.
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