Evaluation of glycemic and insulinemic responses of maltitol in Indian healthy volunteers

There is a very high prevalence of diabetes in India today which is increasing on a North to South axis. In addition to lifestyle changes, Indian people may be more susceptible to insulin resistance. Observational studies suggest that the consumption of diets with a low glycemic impact is associated with a reduced risk of diabetes. Maltitol is a bulk sweetener belonging to the polyols family and exhibiting a low glycemic response (GR). Genetic background has already been mentioned as an influent factor in modulating the GR of various foods. So, assessing glucose homeostasis including glycemic and insulinemic responses (IR) after maltitol consumption in Indians may be helpful in gaining a better understanding of this result from a physiological standpoint. The objective of this clinical study was to evaluate the GR and IR of maltitol in healthy Indian volunteers. The protocol followed Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommendations. After an overnight fast, GR and IR of maltitol and reference (glucose) were measured on 12 subjects (50 g dissolved in 150 ml of mineral water). Glucose tolerance was assessed both before and after testing, the subjects being randomly allocated either to the maltitol or the glucose groups. Both glucose and insulin plasma concentrations were assessed in venous blood. Mean blood glucose levels were significantly lower after the consumption of maltitol compared with glucose from time points 15 to 90 min. GR of maltitol was found to be 20.4 ± 9.3 % of glucose GR. After maltitol consumption, the mean insulin blood levels were significantly lower from time points 15 to 120 min compared with the reference subjects. IR of maltitol was found to be 17.8 ± 9.9 % of glucose IR. We confirmed that the maltitol GR in healthy Indians is low. Moreover, maltitol displays a very low insulinemic response which may be of interest for diabetics in India.