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[Use of xylitol as sugar substitute in diabetic children]
Insights
Xylitol is a suitable sugar substitute for diabetic children, improving diet and preventing cavities. However, it can cause a temporary increase in serum uric acid levels, especially when sucrose is avoided.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Nutritional Science
- Metabolic Research
Context:
- Diabetic children require careful dietary management, including sugar substitutes.
- Xylitol is a polyol sugar substitute with potential applications in diabetic diets and caries prevention.
- Previous research indicated a link between xylitol consumption and hyperuricemia in sucrose-free conditions.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of xylitol as a sugar substitute in diabetic children.
- To assess the side effects of daily xylitol intake in a pediatric diabetic population.
- To investigate the relationship between xylitol, sucrose avoidance, and serum uric acid levels.
Summary:
- Twenty-four diabetic children consumed 30g of xylitol daily for four weeks.
- Most children tolerated xylitol well, though some found it excessively sweet; one experienced diarrhea.
- A significant increase in serum uric acid (1 mg/100 ml) was observed, linked to sucrose avoidance, but deemed without pathophysiological significance in healthy individuals.
- Xylitol is deemed suitable for diabetic diets and caries prophylaxis when used within recommended doses.
Impact:
- Xylitol can be safely incorporated into diabetic children's diets at recommended doses.
- Understanding xylitol's effect on uric acid levels, particularly in relation to sucrose intake, is crucial for clinical application.
- This study supports xylitol's role in both glycemic control and dental health for diabetic children.
Abstract:
In 24 diabetic children treated with insulin xylitol was used as a sugar substitute for four weeks in an amount of 30 gms/day. In one case only the xylitol application was terminated before the end of the dietetic period because of diarrhoea. The other children tolerated xylitol fairly well, three of the children found the polyol too sweet. Because of incomplete data, the values of only 18 children were compiled. A significant increase of serum uric acid concentration measuring 1 mg/100 ml was the main side effect of xylitol usage. This effect was favoured by the fact that diabetic children do not use sucrose. As was shown earlier, a sucrose free period is the precondition for the possibility to find a xylitol induced hyperuricemia. In metabolically healthy children the existence of a sucrose induced hyperuricemia is also to be expected, this xylitol effect is, therefore, obviously without pathophysiological significance. Xylitol is suited for use as a sugar substitute in diabetic diet and in caries prophylaxis if the limited dose is observed.