Reduced calorie alternative to sugar

Reduced calorie alternative to sugar

            Absorption of sugar-substitute sweetener by the human body is slow, allowing part of the ingested polyols to reach the large intestine where metabolism yields fewer calories. Therefore, unlike sugar which contributes 4 calories per gram, the caloric contribution of maltitol is 2.4 calories per gram in EU, 2.1 calories per gram in USA and 2.0 calories per gram in Japan, respectively while sorbitol is 2.4 calories per gram in EU, 2.6 in USA and 3.0 in Japan. Accordingly, maltitol is a suitable useful sweetener in the diabetic diet.