Maltitol, Isomalt

[georgie]

My Mum gave me these gluten-free lollies to eat, and now have crippling stomach pain and D. They have maltitol & isomalt. Is that safe ? They didn't even taste nice Next time I listen to my own body !

[darlindeb25]

Maltitol is made from corn and isomalt is made from soy--do have any intolerances to these? They are not gluten.

[mookie03]

both are difficult to digest and can give you stomach problems. They do not contain gluten but they really make me sick!

[arc]

I know I no longer tolerate any sugar alcohols since going gluten free. SA's are a long chain carb and are very hard to digest. I can't even chew sugar free gum without serious stomach cramps.

[Juliebove]

Both are laxatives. I can't tolerate either one and they have a strange mouthfeel anyway.

[Nancym]

They're sugar alcohols and, in the US if you read the label on candies made with them, it'll say they can have a laxative effect if you over indulge. Some people are more sensitive than others. They really give me horrible gas. In the US they're not derived from wheat, I can't speak for other countries though. There are other artificial sweeteners that are easier on the gut, sucralose, erythritol and I think xylitol are easier to tolerate.

BTW: Anything ending in -ol are sugar alcohols. They occur naturally in plants but not in the concentration we use them in sugar-free foods.

[sfm]

Maltitol, in particular, affects a lot of people that way - the label says laxative effect, but most people I know (myself included) have terrible bloating and gas. I discovered this even before I realized I had a gluten problem. So now whenever something is sugar free I check. Other sugar alcohols can have a similar effect, but from what I've heard, that one is the worst.

[kbabe1968]

Malitol is a prescribled pediatric laxative (as well as a sugar alcohol). (I think it's anything that adds "itol" at the end is a sugar alcohol?). I know A LOT of the sugar free candies, chocolates, etc are made with them. They ALWAYS make me sick, but I don't think it's a gluten issue as much as a sensitive system issue. Does that make sense?

I wouldn't eat it again.