Title: Alternative Sweeteners

290 Kato and Moskowitz
Industries therefore asserts (22) that a warning statement may apply to maltitol
only when greater than 100 g/day is likely to be ingested.
A study by Koizumi (24) concluded that the maximum noneffective laxative
dose for both men and women was 0.3 g maltitol/kg body weight, and that
the 50% single laxative dose (i.e., producing laxation in 50% of the subjects)
was 0.8 g/kg body weight. Data cited by Towa (23) show that the estimated daily
intake of maltitol is only about half the 50% single laxative dose, supporting their
contention that significant laxation problems will not occur in most individuals.
D. Suitability in Diabetic Diets
Because maltitol is hydrolyzed and absorbed slowly compared with sucrose or
glucose in humans, it would appear that maltitol might be useful in diabetic diets.
The goal in dietary management for persons with diabetes is to minimize fluctuations
in blood glucose by not overloading the insulin requirements at any one
time. Indeed, many studies (24,26–30) have shown that ingestion of maltitol does
not produce marked elevations in blood glucose levels in both diabetic and
healthy individuals. It appears that any sorbitol produced from the hydrolysis of
maltitol is absorbed very slowly and, to a certain extent, inhibits absorption of
the glucose also released (31). Thorough reviews of the literature are available
(23,31). Diabetic patients should consult their physician to determine suitability
for their particular circumstances.
E. Caloric Content of Maltitol
In 1990, the European Economic Community Council reviewed the net energy
(NE) value of polyols, including maltitol, and adopted a single interim value for
all polyols of 10 kJ/g (2.4 kcal/g) (32,33).
In 1991 the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare (JMHW) evaluated
the NE value of low-digestible saccharides, including polyols, adopting 1.8 kcal/g
for maltitol (34). After reviewing data in 1996, the JMHW adopted the NE value
of 2 kcal/g for maltitol and most of other polyols except erythritol (0 kcal/g),
xylitol, sorbitol, and some hydrogenated oligosaccharides (3 kcal/g).
The FDA nutrition labeling regulations set the energy value for all carbohydrates,
including maltitol, at 17 kJ/g (4 kcal/g) (21 CFR 101.9). The Code of
Federal Regulations provides for exceptions to this energy value when a request
is supported by sufficient data to justify an alternative value.
Thus, the net energy value of maltitol and other polyols was of great concern
to producers and manufacturers of foods worldwide, including those in the
United States (35). Consequently, the members of the Calorie Control Council’s
Polyol Committee sponsored a study by the Life Sciences Research Office
(LSRO) that would provide an objective assessment of the scientific information