What Is Maltitol?
A 2025 review in Nutrients says maltitol provides about 75 to 90% of the sweetness of sucrose while delivering fewer calories, about 2.1 to 2.4 kcal per gram compared with 4 kcal per gram for sucrose, and that it is widely used as a sugar substitute in sugar-free or reduced-calorie products such as chocolates, baked goods, chewing gum and confectionery.
The review says doses above 40 to 50 grams a day in adults may cause osmotic diarrhea, bloating or flatulence from fermentation in the colon, and cites a study in which a single 50 gram dose of maltitol produced significantly lower blood glucose and insulin responses than an equal dose of glucose or sucrose.
In drug manufacturing, the FDA names maltitol solution, along with glycerin, propylene glycol and sorbitol solution, among the high-risk drug components that should be tested for diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- StudyA 2025 review says maltitol provides about 75 to 90 percent of the sweetness of sugar with about 2.1 to 2.4 calories per gram versus 4 for sugar. Nutrients, via PubMed Central ↗
- StudyThe review says maltitol is widely used as a sugar substitute in sugar-free chocolates, baked goods, chewing gum and confectionery. Nutrients, via PubMed Central ↗
- StudyThe review says maltitol doses above 40 to 50 grams a day in adults may cause osmotic diarrhea, bloating or flatulence. Nutrients, via PubMed Central ↗
- StudyThe review cites a study in which 50 grams of maltitol produced significantly lower glucose and insulin responses than the same dose of glucose or sucrose. Nutrients, via PubMed Central ↗
- Regulatory filingFDA guidance names maltitol solution among high-risk drug components that should be tested for diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol. US FDA ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.