Lactitol, gut bacteria and stomach symptoms in 75 adults
What it found
Ten grams of lactitol a day for a week raised helpful gut bacteria and changed stool acids in healthy adults.
It caused few stomach problems.
What they found
Studies in people
Helpful gut bacteria rose
People eating 10 g of lactitol daily had more bifidobacteria in their stools after one week. The groups eating less or no lactitol saw no change in these bacteria.
Stool acidity and acids
The group eating 10 g of lactitol had lower stool pH and higher levels of two short chain fatty acids called propionic and butyric acid. The other groups showed no changes.
Few stomach problems
Eating 10 g of lactitol each day caused very few signs of stomach intolerance.
What the authors conclude
- They say small amounts of lactitol can improve gut bacteria without causing noticeable stomach problems.
- They conclude that lactitol can be classed as a prebiotic.
How it was done
Earlier work suggested lactitol helps gut bacteria. The researchers wanted to see if small amounts could do this without causing stomach upset.
Seventy-five healthy adults ate 25 g milk chocolate tablets every day for seven days. The tablets contained either no lactitol, 5 g of lactitol, or 10 g of lactitol. Researchers checked stool bacteria, stool acidity and short chain fatty acids before and after.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial lasted only seven days.
- It cannot show what happens when people eat lactitol over months or years.
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 1 Oct 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error