Is Erythritol Found in Your Supplements Increasing Your Weight?
There are many supplements out there today that utilize sugar alcohols to replace pure sugar in order to sweeten up a product. Some of these common sugar alcohols are mannitol, isomalt, xylitol, sorbitol, and others. However, there is one sugar alcohol that is now being shown to increase your fat mass — the opposite of what you are trying to achieve through utilization of a sports nutrition supplement. And that sugar alcohol is erythritol.
Adding to the problem
This country doesn’t need any help increasing the obesity epidemic. American’s seems to be doing a fine job by themselves increasing that statistic. But many people these days are introducing supplements into their dietary routines in hope to help them battle the bulge and hopefully get their weight under control.
One method that many have been using is through protein supplements. These can be in the form of protein bars, nutritional bars, protein powders, and even RTD (ready-to-drink) protein shakes in a can or bottle. Many brands have been utilizing sugar alcohols in these products to keep their total calories, sugars, and carbohydrate counts down to make it appear as if it is a healthier alternative along with it being used as a sweetening agent.
Sugar alcohols like erythritol can cause some GI issues from person to person. Some people can handle sugar alcohols extremely well, while others might be sent running for the nearest bathroom thinking they just downed a bottle of colon blow. But, one thing is for sure, sugar alcohols like erythritol don’t seem to be going anywhere. In fact, it appears they are getting even more popular as the year’s pass.
Erythritol making you fat?
A study conducted at Cornell University looked at the student population and how much weight was gained when they transitioned to college. What they found was that the students who gained weight during their freshman year of college had 15 times higher blood erythritol levels when compared to students in the same class who did not gain any weight.
One researcher mentioned, “About 75 percent of this population experiences weight gain during the transition. With this in mind, it is important to identify biomarkers of risk that could guide its understanding and prevention. With the finding of a previously unrecognized metabolism of glucose to erythritol and given the erythritol-weight gain association, further research is needed to understand whether and how this pathway contributes to weight-gain risk.”
Erythritol is a double-edged sword
Not only have sugar alcohols been shown to cause some GI issues, but now with researchers taking a closer look at erythritol, it appears it could also have you gaining weight. Many protein bars these days are loaded with erythritol as well as other sugar alcohols. If you use these as part of your daily intake for certain macronutrients like protein, there’s a good chance you could find yourself gaining weight—and not the lean mass you were looking for.
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