Hello, Mr. Master, I am interested in how sugar alcohols, such as xylitol, affect the gut microbiota. Do they benefit it, harm it, or are they neutral? Thank you in advance for your response.
You inquire about a typical situation where it is essential to distinguish whether the individual is healthy or not. Generally, polyols are fermented by the gut microbiota. This information indicates that in a healthy individual, this is acceptable as it increases microbiome activity with all its consequences. Conversely, the most commonly presented example where it is recommended to eliminate sugar alcohols from the diet is irritable bowel syndrome, which is associated with the so-called FODMAP diet. In such cases, intestinal dysbiosis causes increased gas and bloating as a result of the inability to efficiently process certain forms of carbohydrates, leading to a range of very unpleasant symptoms (pain, cramps...).
Themes: Gut microbiome Xylitol
Questions answered by
Mgr. Martin Jelinek
Lecturer and author of the educational system
Nutrition educator, lecturer, and author of the educational system and the ZOF learning application.
Mgr. Martin Jelínek has been systematically involved in nutrition education since 1999. He is the founder of ATAC, the educational company behind NutriCourses, and the author of an educational system focused on nutrition, healthy lifestyle, and the practical application of nutrition knowledge.
He graduated from the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University in Brno. Throughout his professional career, he has combined nutrition, education, and the practical application of acquired knowledge. His educational system also includes the ZOF (Zone of Optimal Functioning) learning application, where students turn theory into practical work with meal plans.
In 2007, he launched the first intake of a six-month course focused on the education of nutrition advisors. Over time, this course became the foundation for the further development of the educational system and a range of specialised courses.