Sugar-free gum, if consumed in large quantities, may cause gastrointestinal problems. German medical researchers have discovered that the sweetener sorbitol in sugar-free gum can lead to significant weight loss, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. A single piece of sugar-free gum contains 1.25 grams of sorbitol. Consuming four to eight pieces daily may cause mild gastrointestinal issues, such as bloating and stomach cramps.
Jiang Ying, Deputy Director of the Endocrinology Department at Zhejiang Hospital, explains that some sugar-free gums use sorbitol as a sugar substitute. Sorbitol also has a laxative effect, and excessive intake can lead to diarrhea. A gastroenterology expert points out that sorbitol is not absorbed by the digestive system. People with poor gastrointestinal function are more prone to diarrhea, bloating, and other stomach issues from consuming excessive amounts of this non-digestible sugar compared to others. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believes that chewing more than 50 grams of sugar-free gum per day may cause diarrhea. According to a domestic survey, a clinical trial conducted on third-grade elementary school students in Beijing from 2001 to 2005 showed that chewing one piece of xylitol gum after each of the three daily meals, after snacks, and before bedtime (a total of five pieces per day) had a good oral health effect, and not a single case of diarrhea was reported.
It is understood that in European and American countries, foods containing xylitol generally carry a label warning that "excessive consumption may lead to mild diarrhea."