Isomalt

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Gut bacteria balance³

  People eating isomalt daily grew more gut bifidobacteria than those eating sucrose.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar control in diabetes⁵

  In people with type 2 diabetes, eating isomalt in place of sugary foods improved blood sugar control over 12 weeks.

• Open question

  Bowel habits⁶

  In people, eating isomalt daily made stools slightly more frequent, with no change in stool consistency.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar response⁷

  In people, isomalt caused smaller rises in blood sugar and insulin than the same amount of sucrose.

• Concern

  Gut symptoms from sweeteners⁸

  In 59 healthy young people, 40 g isomalt in milk chocolate increased all gut symptoms, but none were severe.

• Concern

  Tummy trouble in children⁹

  In children, isomalt sweets caused more stomach-ache, wind, rumbling and watery poos than regular sweets.

• Concern

  Tummy upset in children¹⁰

  In children, 25g of isomalt in sweets caused a mild laxative effect and more stomach symptoms.

• Concern

  Gut gas after eating¹¹

  In people, isomalt in chocolate caused more gas in the breath than regular chocolate, but less than sorbitol.

How it’s made and used

• Sweetness compared to sugar⁴

  People and spider monkeys can taste isomalt, but it tastes less sweet than regular sugar.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.

Expert panels that weigh all the research. Shown for context: the signal at the top does not count them.

• UN and WHO food additive experts (JECFA), 1985

  No daily limit needed (“ADI not specified”, JECFA’s term for very low toxicity).