Is Xylitol an Artificial Sweetener?

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is used as a sweetener in many “sugar-free” and low-carb foods. It looks and tastes similar to sugar but has 40% fewer calories.

Unlike artificial sweeteners, xylitol does occur naturally in small amounts in certain fruits and vegetables. However, the type used in foods is commercially produced, usually from birch trees or corn.

So is xylitol considered a natural or artificial sweetener? Let’s take a closer look.

What is Xylitol Sweetener?

Xylitol is categorized as a sugar alcohol, which refers to a class of chemical compounds that are structurally related to both sugars and alcohols.

Other common sugar alcohols used in food products include:

• Erythritol
• Sorbitol
• Maltitol

Sugar alcohols like xylitol taste sweet, but they are incompletely absorbed and metabolized by the body. So they provide fewer calories than sugar and have less of an effect on blood sugar levels.

In its pure form, xylitol looks like a white, crystalline powder similar to granulated sugar. It’s about as sweet as regular sugar but with 40% fewer calories per gram.

Xylitol has a glycemic index (GI) of just 7, compared to a GI of 60-70 for sucrose. It also has a negligible effect on insulin levels.

This makes xylitol an excellent sugar substitute for people with diabetes, prediabetes or those following a ketogenic or low-carb diet.

Does Xylitol Occur Naturally?

Xylitol does occur naturally in small quantities in certain fruits and vegetables like plums, strawberries and cauliflower.

Xylitol is also produced in small amounts during normal metabolism in humans and other mammals.

So while tiny amounts of xylitol can be found in nature, the crystalline powder form used as a commercial sweetener is manufactured. There are a few different methods of manufacturing xylitol:

Extraction from Birch Trees
One method is to extract xylitol from birch tree bark. While effective, this method isn’t very efficient or cost-effective.

Hydrogenation of Xylose
A more common industrial method is to produce xylitol through the hydrogenation of xylose.
Xylose is a sugar found in plants like corncobs, sugar cane bagasse and straw. The xylose sugar goes through a purification process and is then hydrogenated into xylitol.

Yeast Fermentation
Another method for manufacturing xylitol at scale is through yeast fermentation of sugars obtained from corncobs or other plant material.
So while xylitol does naturally occur in trace amounts, the type used in chewing gums and other products is commercially manufactured.

Is Xylitol Considered Natural?

Since tiny quantities of xylitol are found in nature, it’s sometimes marketed as a “natural” sweetener. However, that claim is questionable considering commercial xylitol production involves significant processing.

The FDA actually has no formal definition for the term “natural” when it comes to sweeteners and other food products. So companies can pretty much use it at their own discretion.

Given that most xylitol starts out with a natural source like xylose sugar, but then goes through purification and chemical processing, it lies somewhere in a grey area between natural and artificial.

Is xylitol an artificial sweetener or a natural sweetener?

While there’s no consensus, most health organizations and researchers classify xylitol as well as other sugar alcohols as artificial sweeteners.

Artificial sweeteners refer to substances used to add sweetness to foods without the calories of sugar. This includes chemical compounds like aspartame along with highly processed plant derivatives such as xylitol or stevia.

So while xylitol does originate from natural sources, the type used in commercial food production is created artificially using manufacturing processes.

Pros and Cons of Xylitol

Now that we’ve determined that commercially produced xylitol lies in the grey area between natural and artificial sweeteners, let’s look at some of its pros and cons:

Pros

• It has a similar sweetness as sugar but 40% fewer calories
• Glycemic index of just 7 (no effect on blood sugar or insulin)
• Naturally prevents tooth decay and ear infections
• Safe for people with diabetes and weight issues
• Considered safe for human consumption
• Small amounts occur naturally in some fruits and vegetables

Cons

• It can cause digestive issues in some people
• Toxic to dogs
• Manufacturing methods involve chemical processing
• Not permitted on a strict paleo or keto diet
• It may increase heart disease risk at very high doses

While xylitol provides sweetness similar to sugar, it has far less impact on blood sugar levels and insulin secretion. This makes it a smart choice for people with diabetes.

There’s also strong evidence that xylitol boosts oral health and prevents tooth decay.

However, excess consumption of foods with added xylitol could theoretically raise heart disease risk. But for most people who eat it occasionally, this is unlikely to be an issue.

Overall, xylitol offers more benefits than drawbacks when used in moderation. Just be mindful of overdoing it.

Conclusion

While trace amounts of xylitol do occur naturally in some plant foods, commercially produced xylitol is manufactured artificially.

The extraction and chemical conversion of plant material like xylose involves enough processing that xylitol is classified as an artificial sweetener.

Think of it this way: Sugar cane and sugar beets grow naturally, but table sugar is still considered an added or artificial sweetener. Xylitol falls into the same category.

Compared to other artificial sweeteners, xylitol is generally recognized as safe by major health organizations when consumed in moderation.

For people with diabetes, xylitol is an excellent alternative to sugar that provides sweetness without spiking blood glucose or insulin. It may also boost oral and ear health.

Just keep in mind that excess consumption of foods could theoretically increase heart disease risk. And remember that xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs, even in small amounts.

Moderation is key when it comes to xylitol and other sugar substitutes. But when consumed judiciously, xylitol can be an acceptable option for reducing sugar and carb intake.

Mondstar is a leading food additives supplier, offering a wide range of xylitol sweetener options. Contact us to learn more about our xylitol products.

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