Unwrapping the Truth: What Are the Side Effects of Sugar Free Life Savers?

October 15, 2025 •

4 min read

Approximately 25% of Americans consume low-calorie sweeteners daily, opting for products like sugar free Life Savers to curb their sweet cravings. While these candies seem like a harmless alternative, many people are unaware of the potential drawbacks and ask: 'What are the side effects of sugar free life savers?'. The answer lies in their sweetening agents, primarily sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners, which can cause a range of physiological responses, especially when consumed in large quantities.

Quick Summary

Sugar-free Life Savers often use sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners, which can lead to gastrointestinal distress like bloating, gas, and diarrhea, particularly with excessive intake. Other potential concerns include altered gut bacteria, increased cravings, and, in some cases, headaches associated with specific ingredients like aspartame.

Key Points

Digestive Distress: The most common side effect is gastrointestinal upset, including bloating, gas, and diarrhea, caused by the sugar alcohols sorbitol and maltitol.
Laxative Effect: Consuming a large quantity of sugar alcohols in sugar-free Life Savers can have a noticeable laxative effect due to their slow absorption and impact on the colon.
Headaches and Other Symptoms: Some sensitive individuals may experience headaches or other symptoms related to artificial sweeteners like aspartame, though this is not universal.
Moderation is Key: Adverse side effects are typically linked to overconsumption, and a small, occasional treat is unlikely to cause problems for most people.
Blood Sugar and Weight Management: While sugar-free options are better for blood sugar, they are not calorie-free or carb-free, and some research suggests they might still affect appetite or metabolism over time.
Cardiovascular Concerns: Emerging research suggests potential links between some sugar alcohols (notably erythritol, but similar compounds) and an increased risk of cardiovascular events, especially for those with existing risk factors.

The Core Ingredients of Sugar-Free Sweets

To understand the side effects of sugar free Life Savers, it's crucial to look at what's inside them. Most sugar-free versions, including Wint-O-Green and Pep-O-Mint, list sugar alcohols like sorbitol and sometimes maltitol as primary sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame are also commonly included to enhance sweetness. These ingredients are the main culprits behind the reported side effects.

The Impact of Sugar Alcohols on Digestion

Sugar alcohols are carbohydrates with a chemical structure similar to both sugar and alcohol, but they are neither. Your small intestine doesn't absorb them well, so they travel largely undigested to the large intestine. This slow digestion process is a key factor in the digestive issues people experience. Once in the large intestine, bacteria begin to ferment the unabsorbed sugar alcohols, leading to the production of gas. In higher concentrations, these compounds draw excess water into the colon, which can trigger a laxative effect.

Common gastrointestinal symptoms from excessive intake of sugar alcohols:

Bloating: Caused by the fermentation of sugar alcohols by gut bacteria.
Gas: A direct result of the fermentation process in the large intestine.
Diarrhea: Occurs because sugar alcohols pull extra water into the colon.
Abdominal pain or cramping: Often a consequence of the bloating and gas.

Potential Issues with Artificial Sweeteners

Beyond sugar alcohols, sugar-free Life Savers contain aspartame, an artificial sweetener. While regulatory bodies like the FDA have deemed aspartame safe for consumption within an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), some individuals report negative reactions. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also classified aspartame as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans' based on limited evidence, though the risk is associated with extremely high doses far exceeding normal intake.

Some reported, but less common, side effects related to aspartame include:

Headaches or migraines: Some sensitive individuals report headaches after consuming aspartame.
Weight gain or increased appetite: Conflicting research exists, but some studies suggest that artificial sweeteners might increase appetite or alter metabolism, potentially leading to weight gain over time.
Disrupted gut microbiome: Preliminary research suggests that artificial sweeteners could impact the balance of bacteria in the digestive system, although more studies are needed.

Potential Cardiovascular Risks

While less common than digestive upset, emerging research has raised concerns about the potential link between some sugar alcohols and cardiovascular health, particularly for at-risk individuals. A 2023 study, for instance, found an association between high levels of the sugar alcohol erythritol (not the main one in Life Savers, but a related compound) and an increased risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke in people with existing cardiovascular risk factors. This highlights the ongoing need for research into the long-term effects of these sweeteners, especially for vulnerable populations.

Sugar Alcohols vs. Refined Sugar

To put the risks in perspective, a comparison can be helpful.


Feature	Sugar-Free Life Savers (with Sugar Alcohols)	Regular Life Savers (with Refined Sugar)
Dental Health	Better; doesn't feed bacteria causing cavities.	Worse; contributes to tooth decay.
Blood Sugar Impact	Low to minimal impact; better for managing blood sugar levels.	High impact; can cause significant blood sugar spikes.
Caloric Content	Lower in calories.	Higher in calories.
Potential Weight Effect	Can sometimes lead to altered metabolism and cravings in the long term.	Excessive intake is a key driver of weight gain and obesity.
Digestive Impact	High risk of bloating, gas, and diarrhea, especially with excessive intake.	Not associated with these specific digestive issues.
Long-Term Health Risks	Potential links to heart disease and metabolic issues under investigation, more research needed.	Strong links to type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

Balancing Pleasure with Caution

Ultimately, enjoying sugar free Life Savers comes down to moderation and personal tolerance. While they offer benefits like lower calories and reduced impact on blood sugar, the potential for digestive discomfort and other effects associated with their ingredients should not be overlooked. For most people, consuming a small number of these candies won't cause issues. The problems typically arise from overconsumption, especially when individuals assume 'sugar-free' means they can eat unlimited amounts without consequence. Paying close attention to how your body reacts to the different sweeteners is the best way to determine your own tolerance level.

Conclusion

While sugar free Life Savers are a useful alternative for those monitoring their sugar intake, they are not without potential downsides. The most common side effects stem from the sugar alcohols, sorbitol and maltitol, which can lead to significant gastrointestinal distress if overeaten. The presence of artificial sweeteners like aspartame also warrants attention, as some individuals are sensitive to it, though regulators consider it safe in typical doses. To minimize risk, enjoy these treats in moderation, be mindful of how your body responds, and remember that 'sugar-free' does not equate to a free pass for unlimited consumption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sugar free Life Savers use sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol and maltitol, as sweeteners. Because your body doesn't fully absorb these compounds, they can cause gastrointestinal issues like bloating, gas, and diarrhea when consumed in excess.

Not all sugar-free candies are the same, but many that use sugar alcohols (often ending in '-ol' like sorbitol, maltitol, and xylitol) can cause digestive issues. Candies sweetened with newer, non-alcohol sweeteners like stevia may be less likely to have this effect.

Aspartame has been deemed safe by regulatory bodies like the FDA within an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). While some people report sensitivities, and some studies suggest potential long-term effects (often with conflicting results), the amount in occasional candies is generally not considered a significant risk.

Yes, although they have less impact than regular sugar. Sugar-free candies containing sugar alcohols still have carbohydrates that can modestly affect blood glucose, especially when overeaten. Diabetics should still monitor their intake.

The primary benefits are for dental health, as they don't promote tooth decay, and for blood sugar management, as they cause less of a blood glucose spike than regular sugar. They also have lower calories.

The best way to avoid side effects is to consume sugar-free candy in moderation. Be mindful of portion sizes, and if you have a sensitive digestive system, consider avoiding sugar alcohols entirely or opting for products with different sweeteners.

Yes, counterintuitively, it can. Overconsumption of intensely sweet but low-calorie products may alter taste preferences, potentially increasing cravings for sweet foods overall. Some research also suggests a link between long-term artificial sweetener use and weight gain.