Scientists discover the reason why sugarless candies and gum give us gas

The discomfort of experiencing gas when chewing sugarless gum and candy has been a common complaint among many people. However, a recent study by researchers at the University of California-Davis (UCD) has identified the cause behind this problem and more importantly, has proposed a promising solution to this phenomenon. According to research, sorbitol, a sugar alcohol used as an ingredient in gum, mints, candy and other sugar-free products, is the main culprit in the digestive discomfort and discomfort associated with the consumption of these products. Although sorbitol is also found naturally in certain fruits such as apricots, apples and pears, its presence in high concentrations can trigger a series of unpleasant symptoms, including: exaggeration, cramps and diarrhea. The researchers used mice as an experimental model to analyze which intestinal bacteria contain the genes necessary to break down sorbitol and thus understand how to restore the intestine’s ability to break down sorbitol and eliminate the annoying side effects of its intolerance. ‘Our research suggests that microbial degradation of sorbitol normally protects the host against sorbitol intolerance. However, a deterioration in the microbial ability to break down sorbitol causes sorbitol intolerance,” said Jee-Yon Lee, researcher in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at UCD and first author of the study. Oxygen levels in the intestine The researchers found that regulating oxygen levels in the intestine had a significant impact on the activity of intestinal bacteria. Specifically, we found that elevated oxygen levels in the intestine decreased the presence of certain bacteria, such as Clostridia, responsible for breaking down sorbitol. Related News standard No Explains why noise deafens us and how to prevent it with a drug Rafael Ibarra Noise-induced hearing loss, which affects millions of people around the planet, is due to cellular damage in the inner ear associated with excess zinc, a mineral essential for cellular function and proper hearing To restore normal levels of gut bacteria and reduce symptoms associated with sorbitol intolerance, researchers are exploring the use of specific gut bacteria and existing medications. In experiments with mice, it was shown that the administration of certain intestinal bacteria, such as Anaerostipes caccae, and the use of mesalazine, a drug used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases, helped restore the intestine’s ability to break down sorbitol and reduce digestive symptoms. “This discovery is crucial given the frequent use of sorbitol and similar sugar alcohols in the production of high-fat ketogenic diet foods,” Lee revealed, adding: “It also highlights the importance of oxygen consumption by of the epithelial lining of the intestines to maintain a healthy balance of intestinal bacteria, especially Clostridia, for proper digestion of certain sugars. Despite the success in the mouse experiments, the researchers highlight the need for further clinical testing to determine the efficacy and safety of these approaches in humans, as mice can tolerate much higher levels of sorbitol than humans. However, “our study provides a completely new starting point for approaches to diagnose, prevent and treat sorbitol intolerance,” concluded Andreas Bäumler, vice president of research in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at UC Davis and senior author of the study. . .