Description
Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that occurs naturally in red algae as well as in the leaves and fruits of plants. Sorbitol is used both as a texturizing agent and as a sweetener. People who do not tolerate sorbitol may have digestive problems and experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating and gas in the stomach. If you experience any of these or similar symptoms, it may be because you do not tolerate sorbitol. GetTested offers a breath test to see how much sorbitol your body can break down. What is sorbitol? Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol found naturally in apples, pears, plums, cherries, rowanberries, peaches, apricots, grapes, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. Sorbitol is also found in canned fruit and dried fruit, as well as many light products. It has a laxative effect at high consumption and is used in the food industry as both a sweetener, thickener and consistency agent as it can add sweetness to products without containing a large amount of calories. Sorbitol is not energy-free, but many people replace sugar with sorbitol to get less energy. Sorbitol is used as a sweetener for, among other things, sugar-free or energy-reduced dessert, ice cream, jam / marmalade, confectionery and breakfast cereals. It is also used in ready-made sauces, mustard and diet products. Symptoms of sorbitol intolerance People who suffer from sorbitol intolerance can experience symptoms after consuming sorbitol. Even people without the diagnosis can experience the same symptoms, when they have sorbitol. The symptoms may vary and it also differs from person to person how mild or severe the symptoms are. The most common symptoms are however: Abdominal pain and abdominal cramps Swelling in the stomach Gases Intestinal sounds Diarrhea with gas If you suffer from sorbitol intolerance, it is important to exclude certain foods from your diet, such as certain fruits, processed products and chewing gum. The cause of sorbitol intolerance Sorbitol intolerance is caused by a lack of the specific transporter GLUT5 in the gut. The body’s inability to absorb sorbitol means that it is instead fermented by bacteria in the colon, which gives rise to a variety of problems. The result is a large amount of free hydrogen in the body and these levels can be measured in the exhaled air. You usually talk about two different types of sorbitol intolerances: Primary sorbitol intolerance : Primary sorbitol intolerance is caused by a deficiency of a particular enzyme in the sorbitol transporter GLUT 5. Secondary sorbitol intolerance : Secondary sorbitol intolerance occurs after an intestinal disease, such as gastrointestinal catarrh and other inflammatory bowel diseases such as celiac disease, which temporarily or permanently damage microvilli in the intestinal mucosa. How does the Sorbitol Intolerance Test work The sorbitol test is performed via a simple exhalation test. Before performing the test, the patient should have fasted for eight hours. 24 hours before the test, you should not eat fruit, vegetables or legumes, as they slow down the flow in the intestine. In addition, it is important to avoid taking laxatives or antibiotics the days before the test.
