Sorbitol, a Common Sugar Alcohol, may Contribute to Liver Disease
A recent study from Washington University in โฃSt. Louis has revealed โฃa potential link between โsorbitol, a widely used sugar alcohol found in “low-calorie” โfoods and naturally occurring in fruits, and the development of steatotic liver disease – a condition affecting approximately 30% of adults globally. โฃThe research challenges theโฃ assumption that choice sweeteners are necessarily healthier than customary sugar.
The surprising finding centers on sorbitol’s close chemical relationship to fructose. Researchers, led by Dr. Maurizio Patti, discovered that as sorbitol is only “one conversion away from fructose,” it can โขtrigger similar detrimental effects in the liver. โ
Experiments utilizing zebrafish demonstrated that sorbitol can be produced in the gut from glucose after aโฃ meal, even in individuals โwithout diabetes. While the enzyme responsible for sorbitol production requires relatively highโ glucose levels to function, these levelsโค are commonly reached in the gut following food intake. Sorbitol can โฃalso be directly consumed through foods like candy, gum, and stone fruits.
The fate of sorbitol within โtheโข body depends heavily on the composition of โฃan individual’s gut microbiome. Certain Aeromonas bacterial strains effectively degrade sorbitol into harmless byproducts. Though, if these beneficial bacteria are absent or overwhelmed, sorbitol remainsโค intact and is transported to the liver,โฃ whereโ it is indeed converted โinto a fructose derivative.
While gut bacteria can typically manage โmodest levels of sorbitol, problems arise when consumption – either from glucose-derived sorbitol or direct dietary โintake โข- exceeds their capacity. Even individuals with the beneficial bacteria โขmay experienceโค issues with excessive sorbitol loads.
The study highlights theโฃ complexity of finding truly “sugar-free” alternatives, as many processed foods contain multiple sweeteners. Dr. Patti noted his own surprise at discovering high levels โof sorbitol in a commonly โฃconsumed protein bar.
furtherโ researchโ is planned to fully elucidate the mechanisms by which gut bacteria clear sorbitol and to determine the extent to which sorbitol accumulates in tissues throughout โthe body. The findings underscore the idea that avoidingโข negative metabolicโ consequences requires a nuanced approach,โ as “there is no free lunch” whenโ seeking sugar alternatives.
This research โฃwas supported by the National Institutes of โขHealth.
