Xylitol May Help Ward Off Diabetes

DURBAN, South AfricaXylitol can be used not only as a sugar substitute, but also as a supplement to anti-diabetic food and other food products, according to a new study published in the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. The findings suggest xylitol can be an safe alternative to sugar, but also can be used to fight type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Researchers at the University of KwaZulu-Natal conducted a study to examine the anti-diabetic effects of xylitol in a type 2 diabetes rat model. Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control (NC), diabetic control (DBC) and xylitol (XYL). Diabetes was induced only in the DBC and XYL animal groups by feeding them a 10% fructose solution for two weeks followed by an injection of streptozotocin. One week after the streptozotocin injection, the animals with a non-fasting blood glucose level of >300 mg/dl were considered to be diabetic. The XYL group was fed further with a 10% xylitol solution, whereas the NC and DBC groups were supplied with normal drinking water.

Results showed five weeks of xylitol supplementation improved food and fluid intake, body weight, blood sugar, serum fructosamine, lipid profile, serum insulin concentration and glucose tolerance. However, xylitol supplement did not change liver weight, liver glycogen and serum triglycerides in rats with diabetes.