Effect of maltitol intake on intestinal calcium absorption in the rat.

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 16h and were fed by a polyethylene tube the diet containing 0.44% calcium together with either 10% maltitol or 10% glucose. The total calcium remaining in the gastrointestinal tract at 6h after feeding was significantly decreased in the rats given maltitol diet as compared to the rats given glucose diet. When 10 microCi of 45CaCl2 was given orally with the diets containing maltitol or glucose, the amount of 45Ca remaining in the gastrointestinal tract at 6h 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 monosaccharide alcohols might affect intestinal epithelium, resulting in an enhanced intestinal calcium absorption.