Author(s)

Nor Ezleen Qistina Ahmad, Noornabeela Md Yusoff

Institute of Medical Science Technology, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Kajang, Selangor.

Xylitol is an alternative sweetener which has been previously reported to have many beneficial effects such as prevention from dental caries, reduction of visceral fat and increased synthesis of collagen. However, its role in body weight loss management has not been uncovered before. This study sought to investigate the effects of xylitol on body weight loss management, blood glucose and lipid profile on diet-induced obesity (DOI) mice. Fifteen male mice were subjected to high fat diet (60 kcal%) and normal drinking water for 28 days and then randomly divided into three (control, glucose and xylitol) groups. Each group of mice was then fed with normal diet for another 28 days with supplied normal drinking water (control); glucose solution 10% and xylitol solution 10%. Body weight loss was found to be significantly high in xylitol mice (2.56 ± 0.21, p = 0.003) compared to the other two groups. Lowest blood glucose level was found in the control group mice with the mean 7.65 ± 0.10 (p = 0.001). Xylitol mice had also showed the lowest total cholesterol level (4.20 ± 0.90, p = 0.000) than the other groups, but highest in HDL level (2.72 ± 0.14, p = 0.000). In conclusion, these findings proved that xylitol has the potential to reduce body weight, lowering the blood glucose but yet increase the HDL level.

Xylitol, Weight Loss, Blood Glucose, Lipid Profile, Diet-Induced Obesity Mice

Ahmad, N. and Yusoff, N. (2015) The Effects of Xylitol on Body Weight Loss Management and Lipid Profile on Diet-Induced Obesity Mice. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 3, 54-58. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2015.310007.