Sweeteners
erythritol causes gastrointestinal symptoms
Part of: • erythritol
📅 Last reviewed: 2026-07-15 ⓘ
Evidence ladder
How far up the ladder this claim has climbed. A high consensus on a low rung means "consistent so far," not "proven in people."
Top evidence so far: Human trials (RCT / n-of-1)
How the studies fall
What the evidence shows
Erythritol does cause gas, bloating and osmotic diarrhea at very high single doses, but far less than other polyols: ~90% is absorbed in the small intestine (unlike xylitol/sorbitol, which ferment in the colon), so at typical intakes GI tolerance is good. Contested as a general claim — the dose decides it, and the evidence is split on where that line sits.
The evidence (6)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF), Younes M, Aquilina G, Castle L, Degen G, Engel KH, Fowler PJ, Frutos Fernandez MJ, Fürst P, Gundert-Remy U, Gürtler R, Husøy T, Manco M, Mennes W, Moldeus P, Passamonti S, Shah R, Waalkens-Berendsen I, Wright M, Batke M, Boon P, Bruzell E, Chipman J, Crebelli R, FitzGerald R, Fortes C, Halldorsson T, LeBlanc JC, Lindtner O, Mortensen A, Ntzani E, Wallace H, Barmaz S, Civitella C, D'Angelo L, Lodi F, Laganaro M, Rincon AM, Smeraldi C, Tard A 2023 · EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority | observational | supports | high | EFSA re-evaluation synthesizing human interventional studies; erythritol dose-dependently causes diarrhea, with NOAEL of 0.5 g/kg bw identified and an ADI set at that level to protect against laxative effects; high-intake consumers (childre |
| Teysseire F, Bordier V, Beglinger C, Wölnerhanssen BK, Meyer-Gerspach AC 2024 · Nutrients | observational | tested-null | low | Narrative review: very high erythritol doses can cause some GI discomfort, but tolerance generally good. |
| Mazi TA, Stanhope KL 2023 · Nutrients | observational | mixed | low | Review: erythritol well-tolerated; GI effects far lower than xylitol/sorbitol at comparable doses. |
| de Cock P 2018 · Adv Dent Res | observational | contradicts | moderate | Erythritol is metabolized differently from other polyols — absorbed and renally excreted, so low fermentation and good GI tolerance. |
| Bordier V, Teysseire F, Drewe J, Madörin P, Bieri O, Schmidt-Trucksäss A, Hanssen H, Beglinger C, Meyer-Gerspach AC, Wölnerhanssen BK 2023 · BMJ nutrition, prevention & health | RCT | contradicts | low | RCT, 42 obese adults, 36g erythritol or 24g xylitol daily x5 weeks vs no-treatment control; gastrointestinal tolerance was good overall with only a few diarrhoea-related symptoms reported. |
| Wölnerhanssen BK, Meyer-Gerspach AC, Beglinger C, Islam MS 2020 · Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr | observational | contradicts | moderate | Metabolic review: erythritol largely absorbed in small intestine, markedly better GI tolerance than other polyols (less laxative/gas). |
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