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Sorbitol [1]

 also known as glucitol, Sorbogem® and Sorbo®, is a sugar alcohol that the human body metabolizes slowly. It is found maturally  in apples, pears, peaches, and prunes. But it is also used as a sugar substitute, where it may be listed under the inactive ingredients for some foods and products. Sorbitol is referred to as a ‘nutritive sweetener’ because it provides dietary energy.  It is often used in diet foods (including diet drinks and ice cream), mints and  cough syrups.  It is also used frequently in almost all "sugar free" chewing gum.

Sorbitol is also a non-stimulant laxative. Sorbitol exerts its laxative effect by drawing water into the large intestine, thereby stimulating bowel movements. 

Over dosing is dangerous.  Too much sorbitol trapped in retinal cells, the cells of the lens, and the Schwann cells that myelinate peripheral nerves can damage these cells, leading to retinopathy, cataracts and peripheral neuropathy, respectively. Ingesting large amounts of sorbitol can lead to abdominal pain, gas, and mild to severe diarrhea.   Sorbitol ingestion of 20 grams per day as sugar-free gum has led to severe diarrhea leading to unintended weight loss of 11 kilograms in eight months, in a woman originally weighing 52 kilograms; another patient required hospitalization after habitually consuming 30 grams per day.