Is Xylitol use safe? What side effects might be experienced?

Is consuming xylitol safe?

There should be little concern about safety issues for those who want to consume xylitol products as a preventive for tooth decay.

Xylitol is a naturally occurring compound.

Xylitol is found in a number of fruits and vegetables including strawberries, raspberries, pears, cauliflower and plums.
It is produced by the human body during the metabolism carbohydrates (as an intermediate compound in the glucuronate-xyulose metabolic pathway) on the order of five to fifteen grams per day.
When it is manufactured, the starting agricultural product is typically birch trees or corn cobs.

FDA regulation of xylitol.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classification of xylitol is that of "food additive." Worldwide, xylitol is approved for the use in foods, pharmaceuticals, and oral health products in more than 35 countries worldwide. In the packaging and advertising of xylitol products, the FDA allows manufacturers to make the claim that their product "does not promote dental caries."

Side effects associated with xylitol consumption.

Makinen (1976) studied the effect of xylitol consumption by fifty-two humans over a two-year period. These people consumed on average 1.5 kg of xylitol per month, which averages out to roughly fifty grams per day (over four times the maximum adult daily dosing suggested for preventing tooth decay). No ill effects were found, with the exception of the managable side effects discussed in our next paragraph.

Gastrointestinal side effects associated with consuming xylitol products.

If there is an area of concern associated with the use of xylitol, it is one related to gastrointestinal side effects. Xylitol can be expected to produce a laxative effect when it is consumed at levels that approach fifty grams per day. At lower levels, other gastrointestinal difficulties can be experienced including: diarrhea, flatulence, nausea and stomach cramps. The incidence of these difficulties will vary with the individual and are typically dose size related. Modification of either per serving or daily dosing amounts can usually provide a solution so these side effects are not experienced.

Xylitol toxicity with pets.

In 2006 the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center issued a press release warning of potentially serious or even life-threatening problems caused by the ingestion of xylitol-sweetened products by dogs, due to the hypoglycemic effect it can produce. More recently, there has been a report that possibly xylitol can create this same ill effect in ferrets. For this reason it is suggested that all pet owners should always remain vigilant in their efforts to keep xylitol products out of the reach of pets.

Medical uses of xylitol.

Diabetes: Xylitol is absorbed more slowly than sugar (sucrose). Because of this it does not contribute of elevated blood sugar levels and the associated hyperglycemia caused by insufficient insulin response.
Osteoporosis: Some research has suggested that xylitol consumption may have a use as a treatment for osteoporosis in the sense that it may help to increase bone density.
Ear and upper respiratory infections: Xylitol can assist in preventing ear infections (acute otitis media), at least in part by having an inhibitory effect on the causative bacteria.

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