Sorbitol and insulin

(Ian Murphy) #1

Hi does anyone know if Sorbitol stimulates insulin? Or any sugar alcohols for that matter.

Discomfort
(Nick) #2

Sorbitol does not stimulate insulin on its own. Nor does erythritol. Xylitol has a small effect on insulin, but the small proportion of it that metabolises does so largely without insulin’s intervention. Maltitose is another story and should be avoided. There is some suggestion, in old animal research, that sorbitol might inhibit ketogenesis. How this would apply to LCHF humans is debatable:

The body actually produces and uses sugar alcohols internally all the time, especially xylitol.

The main problem with sorbitol (and to a lesser extent xylitol) is its diarrhetic effects if ingested in larger amounts. Because the tiny-moleculed erythritol is absorbed and urinated out largely before it hits the lower intestine, it does not have the same unfortunate effect.

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/014860717800200502
http://m.ajcn.nutrition.org/content/65/4/947.abstract

(Ian Murphy) #3

Hi. Thank you so much for your time and advice. That’s really kind I will work my way through the information you have provided. Thank you again. Ian