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Metabolism of erythritol in humans: Comparison with glucose and lactitol

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Martin Hiele ,
Yvo Ghoos ,
Paul Rutgeerts  and
Gaston Vantrappen
Martin Hiele
Affiliation:
Departments of Medicine and of Medical Research, Gastrointestinal Research Center, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
Yvo Ghoos
Affiliation:
Departments of Medicine and of Medical Research, Gastrointestinal Research Center, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
Paul Rutgeerts
Affiliation:
Departments of Medicine and of Medical Research, Gastrointestinal Research Center, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
Gaston Vantrappen
Affiliation:
Departments of Medicine and of Medical Research, Gastrointestinal Research Center, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
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Abstract

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The metabolism of erythritol was assessed in six normal volunteers by measuring the amount of 13CO2 excretion and H2 excretion in breath, and erythritol in urine after intake of 25 g 13C-labelled erythritol. The results were compared with the same variables obtained after intake of 25 g 13C-labelled glucose and13C-labelled lactitol. In addition, the H2 production by faecal flora supplemented with small amounts of erythritol, glucose and lactitol was measured in vitro, as an index of bacterial metabolism of non-absorbed substrate. In contrast to the results obtained after intake of glucose and lactitol, no increase in breath 13CO2 and H2 was observed after intake of erythritol, and erythritol was nearly completely recovered in urine. The in vitro experiments showed that no H2 was formed by faecal flora from erythritol as compared with glucose and lactitol. It is concluded that erythritol is a substrate that is readily absorbed, and undergoes no metabolism by the host. If part of it escapes absorption, it is not metabolized by faecal flora.

Keywords

Erythritol metabolismGlucoseLactitolHumans
Type
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 69 , Issue 1 , January 1993 , pp. 169 - 176
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1993

References

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