Lactitol and gut bacteria in healthy adults
What it found
In 75 healthy adults, eating 10 g of lactitol a day for a week raised bifidobacteria and lowered stool pH, with few gut symptoms.
The authors call lactitol a prebiotic.
What they found
Studies in people
Bacteria at 10:0 and 5:5
In the groups getting all sucrose or half and half, there were no significant changes in stool bacterial counts.
Bifidobacteria at 0:10
In the group getting all lactitol, there was a significant increase in bifidobacteria. Other bacteria such as anaerobes, aerobes, Enterobacteriaceae and lactobacilli did not change significantly.
Stool pH and acids
In the all-lactitol group, stool pH fell significantly and propionic and butyric acid levels rose significantly. No significant changes in pH or short chain fatty acids were seen in the other two groups.
Gut symptoms
There were few adverse symptoms of gut intolerance from eating 10 g of lactitol daily.
What the authors conclude
“The results show that low doses of lactitol can beneficially affect the faecal flora without eliciting gross symptoms of intolerance and that lactitol can be classified as a prebiotic.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say low doses of lactitol can helpfully change stool bacteria without causing obvious symptoms of intolerance.
- They conclude that lactitol can be classified as a prebiotic.
How it was done
Lactitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener, and earlier studies found it had a helpful effect on gut bacteria. The authors wanted to see whether low doses helped without causing unwanted gut symptoms.
They ran a randomised study of 75 non-adapted healthy adults. Each person ate 25 g milk chocolate tablets daily for 7 days, containing 10 g sweetener as sucrose and lactitol in ratios of 10:0, 5:5 or 0:10. Stool bacteria, stool pH and short chain fatty acids were measured before and after.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The study lasted only 7 days, so it cannot show what happens over longer periods.
- It looked at healthy adults who were not used to lactitol, so results may differ in other people.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Salford, UK
The paper
- Title
- Effects of low doses of lactitol on faecal microflora, pH, short chain fatty acids and gastrointestinal symptomology
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Finney M, Smullen J, Foster HA, Brokx S, Storey DM (2007). Effects of low doses of lactitol on faecal microflora, pH, short chain fatty acids and gastrointestinal symptomology. European journal of nutrition. doi:10.1007/s00394-007-0666-7PubMed 17623227DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error