Allulose vs Erythritol: which is worse?

What is Allulose?

Allulose (D-psicose) is a rare sugar monosaccharide naturally present in trace amounts in wheat, figs, raisins, and jackfruit. It has about 70% of sucrose's sweetness but provides only 0.4 kcal/g (about 10% of sucrose's calories) because it is absorbed but not metabolized. The FDA exempted allulose from the 'total sugars' declaration in 2019.

What is Erythritol?

Erythritol is a four-carbon sugar alcohol naturally occurring in small amounts in fruits, fermented foods, and mushrooms. Commercially produced via fermentation of glucose by yeasts such as Moniliella pollinis, it has approximately 70% of sucrose's sweetness, provides 0.24 kcal/g, and has a glycemic index of 0. It is nearly completely absorbed in the small intestine and excreted unchanged in urine, which explains its unusually low laxative effect compared to other polyols.

Documented risks

Allulose: Generally considered safe with a favorable glycemic profile. Human studies show that allulose does not raise blood glucose or insulin. GI effects (bloating, abdominal cramping, diarrhea) have been reported in dose-response studies above 0.4 g/kg body weight; a 2016 study in the journal Food & Chemical Toxicology established a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) in humans. Compared to erythritol, no cardiovascular concerns have been raised in the literature.

Erythritol: A 2023 observational study published in Nature Medicine (Hazen et al., Cleveland Clinic) found that elevated blood erythritol levels were associated with increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including heart attack and stroke. Additionally, erythritol was found to enhance platelet aggregation in vitro. This study was widely reported and has generated significant scientific debate; critics note that it was observational (not causational), and that the study population had pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors. Regulatory agencies have not changed their approval status. The long-term cardiovascular implications require further research.