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Sugar alcohols are known for their beneficial effects on modulating insulin release and mitigating factors associated with metabolic syndrome. Among these, erythritol and xylitol have been extensively studied as sugar alternatives due to their numerous health benefits. This study comparatively evaluated the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-hyperlipidaemic properties of xylitol and erythritol, aiming to also explore the mechanisms underlying these therapeutic effects. Therefore, this study aimed to comparatively evaluate the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-hyperlipidemic potential of xylitol and erythritol using in vitro , ex vivo , and in silico experimental models. In vitro antioxidant capacity and anti-hyperglycaemic activity were assessed through free radical scavenging assays (DPPH, nitric oxide, and non-site-specific hydroxyl) and inhibition of carbohydrate-digesting enzymes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase) as well as pancreatic lipase at increasing concentrations of 0.156–2.5%. Glucose uptake stimulation in yeast cells was also determined. Ex vivo studies examined effects on antioxidant enzyme activity, including reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and nitric oxide (NO) production. Furthermore, xylitol and erythritol were docked with α -amylase, α -glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. Xylitol demonstrated significantly (p<0.05) stronger free radical scavenging activity, greater inhibition of carbohydrate- and lipid-digesting enzymes, and enhanced glucose uptake compared to erythritol in vitro. In Ex vivo, xylitol effectively increased GSH, SOD, CAT, and NO activity. Additionally, the in-silico study showed higher binding affinity of xylitol to the target enzymes, indicating stronger inhibitory potential. These results suggest that xylitol exerts its benefits partly by inhibiting digestive enzymes and enhancing endogenous antioxidant defences, thereby supporting glucose regulation and lipid metabolism. The findings indicate that xylitol has greater potential as an antidiabetic, anti-hyperglycaemic, and anti-hyperlipidaemic agent. Therefore, the supplementation of xylitol to replace conventional sugars in both healthy and diabetic individuals' diets is suggested, potentially preventing the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes. Further studies in animal models and clinical trials are required to validate these findings.
Hlongwane et al. (Thu,) studied this question.