Abstract
Significance
The prevention of weight gain in adulthood is a public health challenge, particularly given the difficulty of losing weight. Data on freshmen were collected at the beginning and end of the academic year, and baseline blood samples were studied to find markers of incident weight gain. A metabolite, erythritol, was elevated at the beginning of the year in freshmen who went on to gain weight, fat, and abdominal fat compared with freshmen with stable weight. Erythritol is a sugar substitute low-calorie sweetener, and prior studies claimed no endogenous synthesis. We report a previously unrecognized metabolism of glucose to erythritol, and given the association between erythritol and weight gain, research is needed to understand whether and how this pathway contributes to weight gain risk.