The children were divided into 4 dose groups. In each group of children, only one dose level was tested such that each child was exposed to only a single dose level versus placebo. The erythritol dose started at 5 grams and was increased by 10 g between each group of children only if the preceding dose level was found to have no significant GI tolerance effects. The effects on faecal parameters and gastrointestinal complaints were recorded in order to determine the threshold dose. After finding a significant difference in tolerance between erythritol and placebo in the 25 g dose cohort, a protocol amendment was approved allowing the investigators to study a dose of 20 g.