Metabolism of erythritol in humans: Comparison with glucose and lactitol

Abstract

The metabolism of erythritol was assessed in six normal volunteers by measuring the amount of 13 CO 2 excretion and H 2 excretion in breath, and erythritol in urine after intake of 25 g 13 C-labelled erythritol. The results were compared with the same variables obtained after intake of 25 g 13 C-labelled glucose and 13 C-labelled lactitol. In addition, the H 2 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 13 CO 2 and H 2 was observed after intake of erythritol, and erythritol was nearly completely recovered in urine. The in vitro experiments showed that no H 2 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.