Possibility as Monosaccharide Laxative of Rare Sugar Alcohols

Abstract

Allitol, D-talitol and L-iditol are sugar alcohols that are rare in nature. Due to their previous rarity, little is known about the laxative eŠects of these rare sugar alcohols. Therefore, reliable data on the laxative eŠect that these sugar alcohols cause in experimental animals could help to evaluate the eŠectiveness of new monosaccharide laxative drugs. To investigate the laxative eŠect of rare sugar alcohols, the study was designed to observe the diarrhea that occurred after oral administration of these sugar alcohols in mice. Moreover, to investigate the in‰uence on intestinal function of rare sugar alcohols, the study was designed to examine small intestine transit and the luminal water content. Results indicated that rare sugar alcohols have a laxative eŠect in mice. Diarrhea started at a dose of 4.95 g/kg of rare sugar alcohols. There was a statistically signiˆcant laxative eŠect for D-talitol and L-iditol at a dose of 9.9 g/kg as compared to vehicle. Moreover, rare sugar alcohols signiˆcantly increased the small intestinal transit and the luminal water content of the small intestine and cecum in mice as compared to each vehicle. Overall, L-iditol greatly changes the function of intestine. In conclusion, rare sugar alcohols increase water content in small intestine and accelerate small intestine transit. These results support laxative eŠect of rare sugar alcohols. Therefore, rare sugar alcohols may be useful as monosaccharide laxatives and may be used to treat constipation.

Allitol: production, properties and applications

“…However, the physiological effects of allitol have not been investigated extensively. Oosaka (2009) investigated the laxative effect of allitol and other rare sugar alcohols in terms of small intestinal transit time and luminal water content after administration to mice. Diarrhoea was induced at an allitol dose of 4.96 g kg À1 .…”

“…Also allitol is important in symmetric point for production of other rare sugars linking between D-and L-hexoses and thus can be used to increase the yield of D-psicose from Itea plants and for production of L-sugars (Iida et al, 2008;Hadipernata et al, 2012). It is also used in food products as a low-calorie carbohydrate sweetener with novel functional characteristics (Iida et al, 2008;Oosaka, 2009;Hadipernata et al, 2012).…”

“…They are commonly added to foods as they have a lower calorie content than that of sugars. It has a laxative effect, which can be used to treat constipation (Oosaka, 2009). 1).…”

“…According to the ISRS definition, allitol is considered a rare sugar as it is present in minute amounts in commercial sugars and is difficult to synthesise by chemical methods. It has a laxative effect, which can be used to treat constipation (Oosaka, 2009). This review focuses on the properties, applications and physiological functions of allitol, as well as its biological production from D-psicose and directly from D-fructose using ribitol dehydrogenase (RDH), D-tagatose-3-epimerase and formate dehydrogenase (FDH).…”

Rare Sugars and Antioxidants inItea virginica, Itea oblonga Hand.-Mazz.,andItea yunnanensis FranchLeaves

“…[17] D-Psicose has anti-diabetic and neuroprotective effects, [18][19] as well as oxygen radical inhibition capacity. [20] For allitol, it is a rare sugar with hypoglycemic, [21] anticarious [22] and laxative [23] physiological functions. In addition to their physiological activities, the two rare sugars have a special significance in the manufacture of other rare sugars.…”