- Sugar-free gum bloating solved
- Butyrate, mesalazine offer remedies
- Clinical trials needed for humans
Gassiness induced by sugar-free gum chewing has been reported by numerous individuals; a recent study has identified the cause and developed a remedy.
Scientists from the University of California-Davis (UCD) have identified sorbitol, a singular ingredient found naturally in specific fruits, as the cause of the dreadful bloating.
Sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that is absorbed slowly by the body, induces cramps and diarrhoea when ingested in excess; however, some individuals may experience these symptoms even at low doses.
Sorbitol passes through the small intestine and into colon fermentation, a process in which microorganisms decompose carbohydrates into gas and fatty acids, if it is unable to be broken down naturally during digestion.
A drug used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease was also discovered to be an effective treatment for sorbitol intolerance.
Numerous oral gums, candies, and mints contain sorbitol, which is also naturally occurring in fruits such as avocados, apples, pears, and apricots.
Exploring Remedies for Sorbitol Intolerance
Scientists were interested in determining how to restore the gut’s ability to degrade sorbitol in order to eradicate the bothersome side effects of intolerance, such as gas, diarrhoea, and bloating.
They examined which gut bacteria contained the genes required to degrade sorbitol using rodents.
Antibiotics and foods high in saturated fat decreased the quantity of oxygen used by the cells lining the gut of mice, according to preliminary research.
A greater quantity of oxygen retained in the gastrointestinal tract reduces the population of clostridia gut microbes, which are sorbitol-degrading bacteria.
The researchers initiated the experiment by administering butyrate-producing gut bacteria known as anaerostipes caccae, which functions as a probiotic, to the rodents.
Butyrate is a fatty acid that is produced by consuming fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole cereals (oatmeal and brown rice), legumes (beans, lentils, and chickpeas), and seeds.
Additionally, the clostridia are restored to normal levels as the cells lining the intestines consume more oxygen due to the effect of the colourless, oily liquid.
Following these measures, the mice were protected against sorbitol-induced diarrhoea, even after the butyrate-producing bacteria had left the mouse’s digestive tract, according to the researchers.
“This discovery is crucial, given the widespread use of sorbitol and similar sugar alcohols in the production of high-fat, keto-friendly diet foods,” said Jee-Yon Lee, assistant project scientist in the UC Davis Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and lead author of the study.
New Treatments for Sorbitol Sensitivity
Additionally, it emphasises the significance of oxygen consumption by the intestinal epithelial membrane in preserving a healthy balance of gut bacteria, particularly Clostridia, which are necessary for the digestion of specific sugars, as Lee further stated.
After consuming more than 10 grams of sorbitol, 35 to 70 percent of adults experience gastric discomfort and bloating, according to Food Intolerance Diagnostics, a Swiss gastroenterology organisation.
Additionally, it was discovered that as many as 70% of individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are hypersensitive to sorbitol, even in trace quantities.
The investigators proposed that mesalazine, a medication used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and various inflammatory bowel disorders, could decrease intestinal redness and oedema.
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Similar to butyrate, mesalazine restores low oxygen levels in the intestine, which may assist individuals in eliminating the gassy side effects.
Despite the success of the experiments, mice can tolerate significantly higher concentrations of sorbitol than humans, according to the researchers; therefore, additional clinical trials are necessary to determine whether mesalazine can be used to treat humans.
“Our study offers an entirely new foundation for strategies to diagnose, prevent, and treat sorbitol intolerance,” said Andreas Baumler, professor and vice chair of research in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at UC Davis and senior author of the study.
