Do sugar alcohols have any digestive side effects?
A. When consumed in moderation, sugar alcohols should not cause any digestive side effects in most individuals. However, some people are more sensitive and may experience some side effects at lower levels. One of the reasons that sugar alcohols are lower in calories and carbohydrates compared to sugar is that they are digested and absorbed in a different way. Sugar is digested in the small intestine by enzymes, however most sugar alcohols are digested in the large intestine by normally occurring bacteria. In the process of digesting sugar alcohols, some digestive side effects can occur, including flatulence (gas), colic, and diarrhea. Severity of the side effects will vary based on the individual, and the amount of product that is eaten. These side effects are generally similar for all sugar alcohols. Due to the presence of sugar alcohols in our products, we have included a warning statement on the package indicating that individuals sensitive to sugar substitutes may experience a laxa
