maltitol,maltisorb,maltisweet

Maltitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sugar substitute. It has 75-90% of the sweetness of (table sugar) and nearly identical properties, except for browning. It is used to replace table sugar because it has fewer calories, does not promote tooth decay and has a somewhat lesser effect on blood glucose. Chemically, maltitol is also known as 4-O-α-glucopyranosyl-D-sorbitol. Maltitol does not brown and caramelize after liquifying by exposure to intense heat. It is not metabolized by oral bacteria, so it does not promote tooth decay. It is somewhat more slowly absorbed than sucrose which makes it somewhat more suitable for people with diabetes than sucrose. Its food energy value is 2.1 kilocalories per gram (8.8 kj/g); (sucrose is 4.0 kcal/g (16.7 kJ/g)). Due to its slow absorption, excessive consumption can have laxative effect and sometimes can cause gas and/or bloating. It is very easy for food producers to use it in vast quantities, due to its similarity to sugar, so consumers often end up ingesting far more than they could most other sugar alcohols. This means that maltitol is particularly associated with gastric issues. In countries like Australia, Norway and New Zealand, it carries a mandatory warning such as "Excessive consumption may have a laxative effect." In the United States, it is a Generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substance, with a recommendation of a warning about its laxative potential when consumed at levels of 100 grams per day or more.