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
Contrary to the 'sugar alcohols wreck your gut' reputation, erythritol is the best-tolerated polyol: because ~90% is absorbed in the small intestine (unlike xylitol/sorbitol, which ferment in the colon), it causes far less gas, bloating and osmotic diarrhea.
The evidence (6)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) et al 2023 · study_type: observational | 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 et al. 2024 · Nutrients | observational | tested-null | low | Narrative review: very high erythritol doses can cause some GI discomfort, but tolerance generally good. |
| Mazi & Stanhope 2023 · Nutrients | observational | mixed | low | Review: erythritol well-tolerated; GI effects far lower than xylitol/sorbitol at comparable doses. |
| de Cock 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 et al 2023 · study_type: RCT | 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. |
| Wolnerhanssen et al. 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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