Xylitol

GI(Glucose = 100)

13^*13^*

Energy(kcal/100g)

240 kcal^*240 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)

• Reduces mutans streptococci (habitual use)

  Review of clinical / plaque studies: xylitol disrupts S. mutans energy cycle and can support remineralization context (often chewing gum, ~5–10 g/d split doses). Vehicle and dose matter — not a drug claim.

  Nayak et al. — Xylitol on dental caries and oral flora (J Int Soc Prev Community Dent) (2014)

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

Risks & side effects

• Osmotic GI discomfort

  caution

  Largest symptom-free single dose 0.37 g/kg in men, 0.42 in women (10–50 g in water, 55 young adults). In men, 30 g gave symptoms in 4 of 26 and 40 g in half. A drink with 35 g or 50 g caused significant symptoms and watery stools (Storey 2007). Not a medical diagnosis. Scored: −5 on Everyday Health, Diabetic-friendly and Minimally processed — largest symptom-free single dose 0.3–0.4 g/kg.

  Oku & Nakamura — Threshold for transitory diarrhea induced by ingestion of xylitol and lactitol in young male and female adults (J Nutr Sci Vitaminol) (2007)

• Heart event link (blood levels)

  note

  European Heart Journal 2024: among 2,149 patients having cardiac evaluation, the highest vs lowest third of blood xylitol had more heart attacks, strokes or deaths over 3 years — adjusted HR 1.57 (1.12–2.21). A xylitol drink raised platelet responsiveness in 10 healthy adults. Blood levels the body also makes, in at-risk patients; no authority review on file yet. 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. — Xylitol is prothrombotic and associated with cardiovascular risk (European Heart Journal) (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.