sucralose, acesulfame K and aspartame, are intensely sweet in tiny doses, making them ideal for using in low-calorie soft drinks and sugar-free gum. SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Others, such as sorbitol ...

Sucralose is a chemically altered form of sucrose ... They generally have less than half the calories of sucrose. Sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and erythritol are common polyols.

That said, artificial sweeteners including mannitol and sorbitol have been shown to cause GI issues like diarrhea. Whether this has any long-term adverse effects on gut health, though, is unknown.