Monk Fruit Extract and Diarrhea

Safety Profile of Monk Fruit Extract

The FDA recognizes monk fruit extract as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and it has no known association with diarrhea as a side effect, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics 1, 2
Monk fruit extract received GRAS status from the FDA in January 2010 and is intended for use as a tabletop sweetener, food ingredient, and additional sweetening agent, as stated by the FDA 1
Unlike some other sweeteners, monk fruit extract has no documented contraindications or safety issues in FDA and pediatric guidelines, as reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics 1, 2

Monk fruit extract has not been documented to cause osmotic diarrhea in clinical guidelines, unlike some other sweeteners and sugar alcohols, according to the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 3
Nonabsorbed carbohydrates can present an osmotic load to the gastrointestinal tract, causing diarrhea, but this mechanism has not been documented with monk fruit extract, as stated by the American Academy of Pediatrics 4
Fructose and sorbitol have been implicated in carbohydrate malabsorption that can result in chronic diarrhea, flatulence, bloating, and abdominal pain, according to the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 3

When evaluating unexplained diarrhea, healthcare providers should consider dietary factors including sweeteners, but monk fruit extract is not specifically listed as a common culprit, as recommended by the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 3, 5
In contrast to monk fruit, other sweeteners like maltodextrin have been associated with diarrhea in sensitive individuals, as reported by the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 6

Monk fruit extract has been determined to be safe for use in children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics 1