Effect of Maltitol Intake on Intestinal Calcium Absorption in the Rat

Abstract

To examine whether sugar alcohol affects intestinal calcium absorption, 5-week-old male Wistar rats were fed a basal diet (66% starch) or the diets containing either 10% maltitol, 10% sorbitol or 10% lactose. At 2 and 6 weeks after the start of feeding, the animals were subjected to 5-day-period calcium balance study. Feeding maltitol diets as well as sorbitol diet led to a significantly elevated intestinal calcium absorption and calcium retention. Lactose diet did not produce an increased intestinal calcium absorption in the condition used in the present study. To explore whether maltitol can exert its effect in a short period of time, the rats were starved for 16 h and were fed by a poly-ethylene tube the diet containing 0.44% calcium together with either 10% maltitol or 10% glucose. The total calcium remaining in the gastroin-testinal tract at 6 h after feeding was significantly decreased in the rats given maltitol diet as compared to the rats given glucose diet. When 10μCi of ⁴⁵CaCl₂ was given orally with the diets containing maltitol or glucose, the amount of ⁴⁵Ca remaining in the gastrointestinal tract at 6 h after its administration was smaller in the rats fed maltitol diet than in the rats fed glucose diet. These results suggest that both di- and mono-saccharide alcohols might affect intestinal epithelium, resulting in an enhanced intestinal calcium absorption.