A digestive tolerance study of maltitol after occasional and regular consumption in healthy humans

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the gastro-intestinal tolerance to an indigestible bulking sweetener containing sugar alcohol using a double-blind random cross-over study. Method: In order to simulate their usual pattern of consumption, 12 healthy volunteers ingested maltitol or sucrose throughout the day, either occasionally (once a week for each sugar, first period) or regularly (every day for two 9 day periods, second period). In both patterns of consumption, daily sugar doses were increased until diarrhea and=or a grade 3 (ie severe) digestive symptom occurred, at which the dose level was defined as the threshold dose (TD). Results: In the first period (occasional consumption), the mean TD was 92 AE 6 g with maltitol and 106 AE 4 g with sucrose (P ¼ 0.059). The mean intensity of digestive symptoms was 1.1 and 1.3, respectively (P ¼ NS). Diarrhea appeared in six and one subjects respectively (P ¼ 0.035). In the second period (regular consumption), the mean TD was 93 AE 9 g with maltitol and 113 AE 7 g with sucrose (P ¼ 0.008). The mean intensity of digestive symptoms was 1.7 and 1.2, respectively (P ¼ NS). However, diarrhea appeared in eight and three subjects, respectively (P ¼ 0.04). Maltitol and sucrose TDs between the two periods were not different. Conclusions: Under our experimental conditions, in comparison to sucrose: (a) occasional or regular consumption of maltitol is not associated with severe digestive symptoms; (b) in both patterns of maltitol consumption, diarrhea frequency is higher, but it appeared only for very high doses of maltitol, much greater than those currently used; (c) maltitol does not lead to intestinal flora adaptation after a 9 day period of consumption.

Effect of Sugar Alcohols on Gut Function and Body Composition in Normal and Cecectomized Rats

“…The tendency for diarrhea in the cecectomized rats, but not in the normal rats, fed sugar alcohol-containing diets denotes that cecectomized rats show a similar tendency for diarrhea after intake of sugar alcohols or diets with sugar alcohols to that observed for humans [20,23]. The faster transit time of digesta in cecectomized rats fed sugar alcohols is also similar to the effect of fermentable materials in humans [7].…”

Scientific Opinion on the use of Polyglycitol Syrup as a food additive

“…Maltitol and lactitol have been described as inducing transitory osmotic diarrhoea in humans by the hyperosmotic retention of fluids in the small and large intestines at doses down to 15 g (Nakamura et al, 2007). Upon regular consumption of maltitol and other polyols (daily for two 9-day periods), the occurrence of an intestinal adaptation to maltitols laxative effect at doses of up to 30 g has been reported in some individuals (Brommage et al, 1993;Ruskoné-Fourmestraux et al, 2003).…”

Short-term digestive tolerance of chocolate formulated with maltitol in children

“…To evaluate this threshold in clinical studies, occurrence of diarrhea was measured, defining the mean laxative threshold. Maltitol tolerance has been previously studied in chocolate on healthy adult volunteers (Koutsou et al 1996;Storey et al 1998;Ruskone-Fourmestraux et al 2003). Koutsou et al (1996) tested maltitol tolerance in milk chocolate in adults and compared it with sucrose, isomalt and lactitol.…”