Hermetica Superfood Encyclopedia
Legacy index-continuity record: the score and narrative are provisional and must not be represented as validated or human-approved.
Review flags: AWAITING_SEMANTIC_VALIDATION
Erythritol is a four-carbon sugar alcohol that provides 0.2 calories per gram compared to sugar's 4 calories per gram. It functions by passing through the digestive system largely unmetabolized, avoiding insulin spikes while providing 60-70% of sugar's sweetness.
Reported Benefits (Provisional)
Origin & History
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol found naturally in some fruits and fermented foods. It is commercially produced by fermenting glucose derived from cornstarch using yeast, resulting in a crystalline product that resembles sugar.
Research Narrative (Provisional)
Multiple studies, including human trials, support erythritol's safety and efficacy as a sugar substitute. Its benefits for oral health and blood sugar management are well-documented.
Preparation & Dosage
Dosage guidance is withheld because the publication gate has not recorded adequate support for this profile.
Nutritional Profile
- Contains about 0.24 kcal per gram. - Has a glycemic index of zero. - Does not contribute to tooth decay.
Reported Mechanism (Provisional)
Erythritol bypasses normal carbohydrate metabolism as it lacks the molecular structure for breakdown by human digestive enzymes. Approximately 90% is absorbed in the small intestine and excreted unchanged through urine within 24 hours. Unlike other sugar alcohols, erythritol does not undergo fermentation by gut bacteria, preventing digestive distress.
Clinical Narrative (Provisional)
A 2006 randomized controlled trial with 485 children showed erythritol reduced dental caries by 60% over 2.5 years compared to controls. Clinical studies demonstrate erythritol produces no glycemic or insulinemic response in healthy adults and type 2 diabetics at doses up to 1g/kg body weight. Long-term safety studies spanning 13 weeks showed no adverse effects at consumption levels up to 20g daily. Evidence quality is moderate with most studies being small-scale or industry-funded.
Also Known As
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