Maltitol tested on human white blood cells in the lab
What it found
In lab tests on human white blood cells, maltitol did not increase one type of chromosome damage, but it did raise another type of damage marker.
The authors call its genetic-damage potential weak.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Chromosome exchange
Maltitol did not cause sister chromatid exchange at any concentration or treatment time tested in the lab.
Chromosome damage
Maltitol caused some chromosome aberrations in the lab, but the increase was not statistically significant.
Micronucleus formation
Maltitol raised the frequency of micronucleus formation at 24 and 48 hours, but not in a dose-dependent way.
Cell division
Maltitol did not lower the replication index or the mitotic index at any concentration or treatment time.
Other findings
Medium conditions
Maltitol did not change the pH or osmolality of the lab medium.
What the authors conclude
“In conclusion, it can be concluded that maltitol has a weak genotoxic potential and it appears non-cytotoxic to human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that maltitol has a weak genotoxic potential.
- They say it appears non-cytotoxic to human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro.
How it was done
They exposed human white blood cells to maltitol at 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/mL for 24 and 48 hours. They then looked at three markers of genetic damage and at how fast the cells were dividing.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These are lab tests on cells, not studies in people. They cannot show what happens when maltitol is eaten.
- The tests used cells outside the body, so they cannot show how the body would handle maltitol.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Cukurova University, Turkey
The paper
- Title
- The cytogenetic effects of food sweetener maltitol in human peripheral lymphocytes
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Canimoğlu S, Rencüzoğullari E (2006). The cytogenetic effects of food sweetener maltitol in human peripheral lymphocytes. Drug and chemical toxicology. doi:10.1080/01480540600651600PubMed 16777705DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error