Erythritol

GI(Glucose = 100)

0^*0^*

Energy(kcal/100g)

20 kcal^*20 kcal^*

Carbs(g/100g)

100 g^*100 g^*

Sugars(g/100g)

0 g^*0 g^*

Functional benefits

• Does not promote dental caries

  21 CFR 101.80 eligible sugar alcohol when food sugars/plaque-pH criteria are met. Not an anticaries drug claim.

  FDA — 21 CFR 101.80 Health claims: noncariogenic carbohydrate sweeteners and dental caries (2024)

• Hydroxyl-radical scavenging (in vitro / animal)

  den Hartog et al.: HO• scavenger in vitro; endothelium-protective signals in diabetic rats. Display-only — not a human antioxidant supplement or CV-protection claim.

  den Hartog et al. — Erythritol is a sweet antioxidant (Nutrition) (2010)

Cited minerals can add up to +2 on Best sweetener for everyday health — see Methods.

Risks & side effects

• Osmotic GI discomfort

  caution

  EFSA 2023 set erythritol's acceptable daily intake at 0.5 g/kg body weight (about 35 g a day at 70 kg) on this laxative effect, and estimated intakes exceed it in every age group. Largest symptom-free single dose 0.46 g/kg in men, 0.68 in women. In a drink, 20 and 35 g caused no significant symptoms and 50 g only nausea and rumbling, with fewer watery stools than xylitol at every dose (Storey 2007). Not a medical diagnosis. Scored: −3 on Everyday Health, Diabetic-friendly and Minimally processed — largest symptom-free single dose 0.4–0.6 g/kg.

  EFSA FAF Panel — Re-evaluation of erythritol (E 968) as a food additive (EFSA Journal) (2023)

• Heart event link (blood levels)

  note

  Nature Medicine 2023: among patients having cardiac evaluation, the highest vs lowest quarter of blood erythritol had more heart attacks, strokes or deaths over 3 years — adjusted HR 1.80 (1.18–2.77) US and 2.21 (1.20–4.07) Europe. Blood levels the body also makes, in at-risk patients. EFSA 2023 reviewed this study and found a causal link not shown; blood erythritol may mark metabolic disease. Scored: CV signal −7 on Everyday Health, Weight goals and Diabetic-friendly (not on Easy on the liver) — a serious outcome at low certainty.

  Witkowski et al. — The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk (Nature Medicine) (2023)

• Platelet reactivity after 30 g (small trial)

  note

  ATVB 2024: 30 g erythritol in water, not the same dose of glucose, raised platelet aggregation in 10 healthy adults within 30 minutes. Acute lab measure, not heart events. Part of the CV signal above — not counted twice.

  Witkowski et al. — Ingestion of erythritol, but not glucose, enhances platelet reactivity in healthy volunteers (ATVB) (2024)

Not medical advice. Published recipe penalties (if any) are on Methods — not a clinical severity scale.

Notes

No extra context notes on file yet.

Notes explain what the open axis or risk labels alone can miss — not medical advice.