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What is Xylitol?

Xylitol is a safe and palatable FDA-approved sugar substitute (also known as a polyol) that is beneficial in preventing cavities and plaque build-up. It can be described as a white crystalline powder that is odorless, with a pleasant, sweet taste. Ever since its discovery in 1891 by a German chemist named Emil Fischer, xylitol has been used as a sweetening agent in human food. It has gained and is still increasing acceptance as an alternative sweetener due to its role in reducing the development of dental caries (cavities). When derived and synthesized commercially from plants such as birch and other hard wood trees and fibrous vegetation, xylitol has the same sweetness and bulk as sucrose with one-third fewer calories and no unpleasant aftertaste. It quickly dissolves and produces a cooling sensation in the mouth, and it is widely distributed throughout nature in small amounts, with some of the best sources as fruits, berries, mushrooms, lettuce, hardwoods, and corncobs. It is also naturally produced by our body during normal metabolism. Our bodies produce from 5 to 10 grams daily from other food sources using established energy pathways. This only means it is not a strange or artificial substance, but a natural, normal part of everyday metabolism.

Xylitol is a naturally occurring 5-carbon sugar alcohol, a type of carbohydrate found in all fibrous vegetables. Foods, pharmaceuticals, natural health care, toothpastes, chewing gum and other oral health care products have contained xylitol for over half a century, with more than 35 countries worldwide using xylitol-containing products. Over 1500 published studies have proven that xylitol have unique and significant health benefits, no side effects, and an unsurpassed safety record. Xylitol as a sweetener is beneficial primarily because it equals the sweetness of sugar, it has 40 fewer calories than sugar, its metabolism does not require insulin, and it has a low glycemic index (GI) of seven. Unlike artificial sweeteners, xylitol has numerous health benefits. When consumed, it is absorbed very slowly without having any effect on insulin levels and therefore blood sugar (glucose) levels. This is highly beneficial in diabetics or those with blood sugar abnormalities.

What is Xylitol used for and who uses it?

Xylitol is currently approved for use in foods, pharmaceuticals and oral health products in more than 35 countries. Xylitol is used in foods such as chewing gum, gum drops and hard candy, and in pharmaceuticals and oral health products such as throat lozenges, cough syrups, children's chewable multivitamins, toothpastes and mouthwashes. In the United States, xylitol is approved as a direct food additive for use in foods for special dietary uses.

Although being a sweetener, unlike conventional sugars that can cause cavities, xylitol has dental health benefits. Unlike other sugar alcohols with a 6-carbon structure, xylitol does not contribute to the formation of dental caries (cavities). The main bacterium that is responsible for dental caries is Streptococcus mutans. This bacterium utilizes sugar alcohols, sugars and other carbohydrates for food through fermentation. In the process of doing so, it is able to manufacture acids that eat through the enamel on the teeth, which consequently leads to decay. Streptococcus mutans cannot ferment xylitol. Additionally, xylitol causes the environment to become more alkaline inhibiting the bacterium’s growth. Xylitol is anti-cariogenic (anti-cavity forming) and significantly reduces the incidence of dental decay. The sweetness and pleasant cooling effect of xylitol-sweetened products (such as mints and chewing gum) create an increase in salivary flow, which in turn helps with cleaning and protecting teeth from decay.

Another important and notable benefit of xylitol is its ability to help treat and prevent acute otitis media (acute middle ear infections) in children. Xylitol inhibits the growth of Streptococcus pneumoniae, the main culprit in the condition. Consumed as xylitol-sweetened gum and syrup, studies have shown xylitol is effective in reducing the incidence of acute otitis media (AOM) by 30 to 40%. It must, however, be taken consistently and regularly, as it becomes less effective once the infection has set in.

For diabetics, control of blood glucose, lipids and weight are the three major goals of diabetes management today. Since Xylitol is slowly absorbed, when xylitol is used, the rise in blood glucose and insulin response associated with the ingestion of glucose is significantly reduced. The reduced caloric value (2.4 calories per gram versus 4.0 for sugar) of xylitol is consistent with the objective of weight control. Xylitol can be very beneficial for just about everyone, from people on low-carb diets, people on calorie-restricted diets, people on restricted blood sugar diets, and people concerned about dental caries (cavities). This product may also be beneficial as a reduced-calorie and carbohydrate-free sweetener for people trying to lose weight, especially with low-carbohydrate diets.

How pure is your Xylitol?

This food grade Xylitol Powder is assayed by the manufacturer as 99.2% pure product (normal range 98.5% and above). You will receive a double sealed labeled bulk polyethylene bag containing this white crystalline powder product. It contains no fillers, taste additives, or anti-caking agents. The remaining 0.8% by weight are inactive byproducts of the extraction. Anywhere in the world, people continue to demand good tasting products with less calories and fat. The development and use of a variety of safe low-calorie sweeteners such as Xylitol help meet this consumer demand. Since Xylitol works well with other ingredients, its use results in synergistic blends which provide taste, economic and stability advantages. With the increasing demand for products reduced in calories or fat, Xylitol’s use should increase as well because of its good taste, reduced caloric value, versatility and other benefits.

What are some of the common effects and facts about Xylitol?

In clinical trials and research, the consumption of xylitol between meals significantly reduced new caries formation, even when participants were already practicing good oral hygiene. Overall data from research clearly establish that use of xylitol sweetened foods provides additional help in the battle against tooth decay. It also prevents the growth of S. mutans, the primary bacterium responsible for dental caries. The usefulness of polyols, including xylitol, as alternatives to sugars and as part of a comprehensive program including proper dental hygiene has been recognized by the American Dental Association. The FDA has approved the use of a "does not promote tooth decay" health claim in labeling for sugar-free foods that contain xylitol or other polyols.

What is the daily suggested dose of Xylitol?

Xylitol is most often used as a sugar substitute, in which case there is no "dosage," per se. Since it can also be used medicinally, general dosing information is available, based on several different clinical studies. Reasonable Xylitol dosing to help prevent dental cavities range from 7 to 20 grams (7000 to 20000 mg) daily (split up into three to five doses per day). Studies of xylitol for preventing ear infections in children used dosages of 8.4 to 10 grams daily, divided into five smaller doses per day. As a guide, you can see the full bulk density/volumetric conversion chart for Xylitol here.

As always, if you have concerns or questions, consult a physician or a health care professional before taking any supplements. Before taking any kind of medicine, check with your doctor to ensure that the supplement you want to take is right for you. You may be allergic or you may have a sensitive stomach which may raise the need for special instruction as far as dosage goes.

Safety, Precautions, and Potential side effects of Xylitol

Various committees and advisory boards have reviewed the safety data for xylitol. They have found no health concerns or placed any limits on consumption. While xylitol is considered safe at even very high doses of 400 grams per day, high doses can have mild laxative effects in humans. Like all sugar alcohols, xylitol can have a laxative effect, and this can cause diarrhea and gas. Just like with fiber intake, the laxative effects of this product can be minimized if you increase your intake gradually.

While there is no known human toxicity for xylitol even at extremely high doses, dogs may have serious and life threatening consequences when ingesting more than a few grams of xylitol. Xylitol is very dangerous to dogs because it triggers a sudden release of insulin, which causes a dramatic drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia), essentially throwing the dog's body into a form of shock. The dog's blood sugar can drop 50 points or more in the span of just 30 minutes, causing shock and liver failure shortly thereafter.

The information at Purebulk.com is NOT a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not use any dietary supplement as a replacement for conventional care, or as a reason to postpone seeing a doctor about a medical problem. Tell all your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

Taste, solubility, and suggested preparation of Xylitol

This product dissolves somewhat slowly in water and tastes very much like sugar (with the same sweetness as sucrose) and with no bitterness or aftertaste. Xylitol is available in its pure form for use in baking and everyday food preparation. It can be substituted one for one with sugar; however, it has a drying characteristic so the recipe may need adjustment of its liquid levels.

Xylitol is used in the following Proprietary Formulas

Blending xylitol with other polyols (e.g., sorbitol, mannitol etc) and high-intensity sweeteners offers additional taste and functional possibilities. Products that contain xylitol more often than not include other polyols as well. Some of these products are Xlear nasal spray, SparX candy, Spry, Xylosweet, Cookie Mixes (Bernard Food Industries etc), Maple Syrups, Trident Sugarless Chewing Gum, Dentyne Gum, Sweet 'N Low Pancake Mix, Estee Lemon Creme Wafers, Coke, Now Foods Sorbitol, Smuckers, Berocca, Mannogem Powder, Osmitrol, Cargill, Roquette America, SPI Polyols, Anabolic Rush (AST), Maximize (I Force), Proteon Bars (Universal), The Protein Cookie (Fit Foods), Zerose (Cargill), Zsweet, VitaminWater 10 (owned by Coca Cola), Truvia™

References & Further Research

Cariologic aspects of xylitol and its use in chewing gum: A review
Several studies indicate that xylitol is not metabolized to acids either in pure cultures of oral microorganisms in vitro or in dental plaque in vivo. Chronic consumption of xylitol-sweetened chewing gum resulted in reduction of dental plaque, suppression of mutans streptococci. and reduced adhesiveness of plaque. So far, four field studies with regimens including chewing gum and other xylitol-containing products and four clinical trials have been carried out. All of the latter studies showed that a daily intake of two to three pieces of xylitol gum resulted in a defined reduction of caries. There are indications that regular and prolonged use of xylitol chewing gum may have a caries-preventive effect.

The use of sorbitol- and xylitol-sweetened chewing gum in caries control
The author compared the caries-inhibitory action of sorbitol- and xylitol-sweetened chewing gum and assessed the role of these products in caries prevention. Overall data showed that when compared with sugar-sweetened gum, sorbitol-sweetened gum had low carcinogenicity when it was chewed no more than three times per day. Xylitol-sweetened gum was noncariogenic in all of the protocols tested. Some studies claimed that xylitol-sweetened gum had an anticariogenic effect, though these claims need further study. There also is good evidence that when mothers of infants and young children chew xylitol-sweetened gum, it will block transmission of mutans streptococci from mother to child. This would mean that there is strong enough evidence to support the regular use of xylitol-sweetened gum as a way to prevent caries, and it can be promoted as a public-health preventive measure. Chewing xylitol-sweetened gum, especially for patients who like chewing gum, can be fitted readily into a regimen that includes frequent fluoride exposure, good oral hygiene and regular dental appointments.

Xylitol for International Customers

We have the most economical shipping costs & labeling practices for International orders. You can see our shipping costs here. Also, please note, that anything in a 1.5kg package can be shipped within a single flat rate envelope, however our shopping cart mistakenly displays 2 envelopes. Go ahead and ship the order, and you will notice that it only charges you the cost of 1 anyway. Look at the shipping costs tab above to see for yourself how you can calculate these charges.

Buying Xylitol Bulk or Wholesale

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