Kera candy contains 35% sorbitol: What are the effects if people with underlying medical conditions use it in large amounts?

The harmful effects of sorbitol on people with underlying diseases

Specialist Doctor 1 Bui Hoang Bich Uyen, Department of Nutrition, Xuyen A General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City said that sorbitol is a type of carbohydrate belonging to the sugar alcohol group (polyol), white liquid, odorless, completely soluble in water, alcohol, has a mild sweet taste (60% of the sweetness of sugar), but provides less energy (2.6 kcal/g compared to 4 kcal/g of sucrose). Sorbitol belongs to the group of sweetening additives, is allowed to be used in food and is often used as a sweetener to replace sugar in food, pharmaceuticals and has a laxative effect when used in high doses.

"The harmful effects of sorbitol abuse on patients with chronic underlying diseases are significantly more serious than on normal people. Side effects such as dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, and effects on blood sugar can aggravate existing medical conditions, leading to dangerous complications," Dr. Uyen emphasized.

Tests showed that Kera candy contained the sweetener sorbitol but it was not declared.

PHOTO: VFA.GOV.VN

Electrolyte disturbances can cause arrhythmias and even heart failure in people with underlying medical conditions. Dehydration can reduce blood volume, causing the heart to work harder to pump blood, putting stress on the cardiovascular system and possibly worsening heart failure or high blood pressure.

Although sorbitol has less effect on blood sugar than regular sugar, in people with diabetes, consuming a lot of sorbitol can still increase blood sugar, making it difficult to control the disease.

For people at risk of hypoglycemia, sorbitol does not directly cause hypoglycemia, but side effects such as diarrhea and dehydration can disrupt the body's balance and indirectly affect blood sugar control.

Special care should be taken in patients with chronic renal failure or kidney problems because their body's ability to balance electrolytes is impaired. Dehydration and electrolyte disturbances caused by sorbitol may aggravate renal failure.

People with irritable bowel syndrome are particularly sensitive to sorbitol and may experience more severe gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating even when taken in small doses.

How much sorbitol is harmful?

"When consuming more than 10 g of sorbitol per day, some people may experience diarrhea and abdominal pain, although the incidence is not high. When consumed in excess, especially over 50 g per day, sorbitol can cause laxatives, digestive disorders, leading to diarrhea and intestinal imbalance. Therefore, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that consumers carefully read the ingredients on the product label, control the amount of sorbitol consumed and consult a medical expert if there are any unusual signs," Dr. Uyen shared.

Dr. Uyen said that although sorbitol is recognized as safe by organizations such as the FDA, uncontrolled use can cause some unwanted effects.

According to international regulations, if a product contains more than 10% sorbitol, it must carry a warning that "may cause diarrhea if consumed in large amounts".

Kera candy contains 35% sorbitol

As reported by Thanh Nien , according to the Ministry of Public Security , after receiving information about the group Hang "nomad", Quang Linh Vlogs, and Miss Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien falsely advertising Kera candy products on social networking platforms, the authorities have stepped in to verify. The authorities determined that the food supplement product Kera Super Greens Gummies (Kera candy), a product of Chi Em Rot Group Joint Stock Company, manufactured by Asia Life Joint Stock Company, is "counterfeit".

Accordingly, the organizer of Kera candy production, instead of directing the purchase of raw materials such as vegetable powder produced according to VIETGAP standards, directed employees to purchase vegetable powder with contents below the standard from 0.61 - 0.75%, while the announced amount was 28%. This person even directed the addition of sorbitol (a laxative) to the ingredients at a rate of 35%, along with other additives without disclosing it to consumers.

Through testing, the National Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene Control discovered that the product sample contained sorbitol, a sweetener, with a content of 33.4 g/100 g, but it was not listed on the product label as prescribed.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/keo-kera-chua-35-chat-sorbitol-nguoi-benh-nen-dung-nhieu-gay-hai-ra-sao-185250521165702935.htm