Mannitol and sorbitol absorption in people with irritable bowel syndrome
What it found
In people with irritable bowel syndrome, gut symptoms rose after taking mannitol or sorbitol.
Healthy people did not report the same increase.
What they found
Studies in people
Absorption differences in IBS
About 40% of people with irritable bowel syndrome fully absorbed sorbitol, similar to 33% of healthy people. However, 80% of those with irritable bowel syndrome fully absorbed mannitol, compared with only 43% of healthy people.
Gut gas production
Healthy people produced similar amounts of gut gas after either polyol. People with irritable bowel syndrome produced more gas after sorbitol than after mannitol.
Gut symptoms after polyols
Overall gut symptoms rose significantly after both polyols, but only in people with irritable bowel syndrome. These symptoms happened regardless of how well each polyol was absorbed.
Other findings
Where these polyols appear
Some fruits and sugar free gum contained sorbitol. Certain vegetables had more mannitol.
What the authors conclude
- They found that people with irritable bowel syndrome absorb mannitol and sorbitol differently from healthy people.
- The authors note that these polyols triggered gut symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome patients no matter how well they were absorbed.
- They suggest that cutting back on dietary polyols may help manage these symptoms.
How it was done
Sorbitol is known to be poorly absorbed and can cause gut symptoms, but less is known about mannitol. The authors wanted to compare how both are taken in by the body and whether they trigger symptoms.
They tested food samples for mannitol and sorbitol content. They also gave 10 g of sorbitol, mannitol or glucose to 21 healthy people and 20 people with irritable bowel syndrome. The trial was randomised and double blinded, meaning neither participants nor researchers knew which drink was given.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial measured responses to a single 10 g dose. It cannot show what happens when people eat smaller amounts over many days.
- The study looked at short term gut symptoms and breath gases. It does not cover long term health effects.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Monash University, Australia
The paper
- Title
- Dietary sorbitol and mannitol: food content and distinct absorption patterns between healthy individuals and patients with irritable bowel syndrome
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Yao CK, Tan HL, van Langenberg DR, et al (2014). Dietary sorbitol and mannitol: food content and distinct absorption patterns between healthy individuals and patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Journal of human nutrition and dietetics. doi:10.1111/jhn.12144PubMed 23909813DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error