Enhanced Absorption of Calcium after Oral Administration of Maltitol in the Rat Intestine

Abstract

The enhancing effects of maltitol (alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-1,4-sorbitol) on absorption of calcium by the rat intestine have been studied by use of [45Ca]CaCl2 in-vivo. After intragastric administration of [45Ca]CaCl2 solution with maltitol, plasma 45Ca concentration remained at the maximum level for more than 80 min, whereas for animals given [45Ca]CaCl2 solution without maltitol, plasma 45Ca concentration declined sharply after the peak. Determination of 45Ca radioactivity remaining in the various segments of the gastrointestinal tract revealed that administration of maltitol elicited slower gastric emptying and slower intestinal transit, resulting in extensive 45Ca distribution along the small intestine throughout the experimental period. The luminal contents of the small intestine were significantly higher in rats given maltitol than in the control group. These results suggest that the enhancing action of maltitol on intestinal calcium absorption could be attributed to reduced gastrointestinal calcium transit and increased luminal fluid content, presumably because of the osmotic activity of maltitol; this would not only accelerate the dissolution of calcium into the increased luminal contents, but also enable a larger area of the small intestine to absorb calcium for a longer period of time.

Two-week feeding of difructose anhydride III enhances calcium absorptive activity with epithelial cell proliferation in isolated rat cecal mucosa

“…Intraluminal infusion of sorbitol increases Ca absorption in the small intestine of rats (18). Using a tracer technique with 45 Ca, maltitol was found to stimulate Ca absorption in rats (19). In in vitro experiments using everted sacs or isolated preparations, maltitol (20), and polydextrose (21) were also seen to stimulate Ca absorption in the small intestine of rats.…”

Gut Function-Enhancing Properties and Metabolic Effects of Dietary Indigestible Sugars in Rodents and Rabbits

“…For instance, dietary lactose induced stimulation of Mg absorption in rats, and this was caused by a lowering effect on ileal pH [ 121 ]. Using a tracer technique with 45 Ca, maltitol was found to stimulate Ca absorption in rats, and osmotic activity of maltitol in small intestine was suggested to contribute to the increase in Ca absorption [ 122 ]. Other iS such as melibiose, DFA III, or DFA IV increased the permeability of intercellular passage, affected the epithelial tissue and opened the tight junctions of jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon of rats [ 123 ].…”

The genotoxic and teratogenic effects of maltitol in rats

“…Tsukamura et al (1998) reported that dietary maltitol (10 g/kg bw) has a protective effect against dimethylhydrazine-induced tumours in rat cecum and the proximal colon. Maltitol did not cause dental plaque (Maguire et al, 2000), and it increased the calcium absorption in the lower small intestine and increased the breaking force of femoral bones (Fukahori et al, 1998; Goda et al, 1998; Kishi et al, 1996). On the other hand, 40 g maltitol caused mild borborygmi, flatus and colic in healthy volunteers (Koutsou et al, 1996; Storey et al, 1998).…”