Erythritol

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Blood sugar control²

  Erythritol is a sweetener studied for helping keep blood sugar levels steady in people and animals.

• Concern

  Gut upset from sweeteners³

  Erythritol can cause diarrhoea in people, and scientists say heavy eaters may take in more than the safe daily amount.

• Concern

  Blood clotting risk⁴

  In people, eating erythritol made blood platelets stickier, which may raise clotting risk, though scientists do not yet know for sure.

Animal and lab studies only

• Concern

  Blood vessel health in the brain⁶

  In lab studies, erythritol raised oxidative stress and lowered nitric oxide in human brain blood vessel cells.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar after meals⁷

  In animal studies, erythritol lowered blood sugar after eating, possibly by blocking an enzyme that digests starch.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  Tooth decay and blood sugar⁵

  Erythritol is a sweetener that may cut tooth decay and does not raise blood sugar.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.