Sugar alcohols (e.g., Maltitol) and bloating

[Guest guest]

Sugar alcohols are used in many " sugar free " products because they

have approximately half of the calories of sugar.

Here is a link that explains how sugar alcohols like maltitol are

produced and some of their effects on humans (blood sugar, digestion,

excretion). A small excerpt of the digestibility is listed below.

Tony

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http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v20je13.htm

Hydrogenated glucose syrups (HGS) are a mixture of polymers of

glucose obtained from starch by hydrolysis which, upon hydrogenation,

results in chemical reduction of the end-group glucose molecule to

sorbitol. HGS consists primarily of maltitol and sorbitol, with lower

portions of hydrogenated oligo- and polysaccharides.

Ten men and 7 women volunteers consumed daily 20 hard candies

containing about 80 g/day of sweet product, for 2 consecutive weeks in

a blind trial. Each volunteer was offered for 1 week sucrose control

candies and for the other week the candies made from HGS. A majority

of volunteers complained during both trial weeks of digestive

disorders, such as loss of appetite, occasional diarrhoea, cramps, and

a " bloated feeling " . At the dosage level of 80 g/day of hard candies

made from HGS, the limit of tolerance was exceeded (Leroy, 1982a).