Sorbitol intolerance in adults. Prevalence and pathogenesis on two continents

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Human Nutrition

Background:

• Sorbitol intolerance prevalence and pathogenesis in adults remain understudied.
• Sorbitol, a sugar alcohol, is found in many foods and can cause gastrointestinal distress in sensitive individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of sorbitol intolerance in healthy adults.
• To explore potential contributing factors, such as orocecal transit time, to sorbitol intolerance.

Main Methods:

• Oral administration of 10g sorbitol to 124 healthy adults (USA and India).
• Assessment of abdominal symptoms post-ingestion.
• Measurement of orocecal transit time using breath hydrogen (H2) analysis in Asian Indian volunteers.

Main Results:

• 32% of healthy adults reported abdominal symptoms after sorbitol ingestion.
• Orocecal transit time was significantly shorter in sorbitol-intolerant individuals (71.8 min) compared to tolerant individuals (109.5 min).

Conclusions:

• Sorbitol intolerance is a prevalent issue affecting a substantial portion of healthy adults.
• A rapid orocecal transit time may be a contributing factor to sorbitol intolerance.
• Understanding sorbitol content in foodstuffs is important for managing intolerance.