Chewing too much gum linked to excessive weight loss

German scientists have revealed a link between chewing too much gum and excessive weight loss.

They say too much gum chewing can cause diarrhea and unintended weight loss among people, regardless of sex and age.

The scientists from Humboldt University in Berlin say gum which contains the sugar substitute sorbitol, when chewed too often, can cause functional bowel complaints and considerable unintended weight loss.

This revelation came about when Dr. Herbert Lochs, professor of internal medicine at Humboldt and his team were investigating two cases of unintended weight loss.

A 21-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man who were both experiencing diffuse abdominal pains and chronic diarrhea and had lost 24.2 pounds in eight months and 48 pounds in less than a year, respectively.

When their dietary habits were examined it was found that both were consuming excessive amounts of sorbitol, mainly from chewing as many as 14 sticks of gum each day.

Lochs, a gastroenterologist and lead author of the study says that when both patients were put on a diet devoid of sorbitol, they gained weight and their diarrhea disappeared.

The researchers warn that sorbitol is also a laxative which may lead to chronic diarrhea and "potentially dangerous weight loss."

They say any investigation of unexplained weight loss should include detailed dietary history with regard to foods containing sorbitol.

Sorbitol which is also called E420, is a sugar alcohol and a bulk sweetener found in numerous food products particularly diet foods, diet drinks and ice cream and sugar-free chewing gum.

It is 60 percent sweeter than sucrose but contains far less calories.

It is regarded as being safe and has been used in processed foods for decades; it also occurs naturally in pears, prunes and many stone fruits and berries; it is also used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Medical experts say sorbitol is poorly absorbed by the small intestine, and its excessive intake causes abdominal pain, gas, and mild to severe diarrhea and can also aggravate irritable bowel syndrome.

The study is published in the latest issue of British Medical Journal.