Abstract
The absorption and degradation mechanism of maltitol were investigated and compared with those of glucose. The following results were obtained by tests of orally administered 14C-maltitol (U) and 14C-glucose (U) in mice.
The distribution of 14C-maltitol was observed to be dense in the intestinal tract of mice by macroradioautography even after four hours of oral administration, whereas no distribution of 14C-glucose glucose was noted after only two hours of oral administration.
The recovery rates of expired 14CO, for each 0-30, 30-60 and 0-240 minute intervals after oral administration were 0.38±0.06%, 1.64 ±0.08 % and 13.18%, respectively for the glucose administered group, and 0.17±0.06%, 0.22±0.04% and 3.26 % respectively for the maltitol administered group.
The recovery rates of 14C from peripheral blood at five minutes after oral administration were 2.29±1.03% for the glucose group and 0.11±0.04% for the maltitol group. The glucose group exhibited a maximum recovery rate of 6.16±3.07% at fifteen minutes after administration, on the other hand, the maltitol group exhibited only 0.41+0.22% at that time. Only glucose and sorbitol were detected in peripheral blood of the maltitol mice group by means of paper chromatography and macroradioautography.
The recovery rates of 14C from feces in the glucose and maltitol groups were 0.44±0.24% and 29.55±13.11%, respectively.
The latter showed levels of recovery approximately 67 times higher than those of the former. It was concluded that maltitol was absorbed slowly through the intestinal tract, and that its rate of absorption was significantly less than that of glucose.
