Maltitol and blood sugar in three ethnic groups
What it found
In 30 people from three ethnic backgrounds, maltitol produced a similar blood sugar response across all groups.
The response to maltitol was lower than to glucose.
What they found
Studies in people
Blood sugar response
The blood sugar response to maltitol and glucose was not significantly different between the three ethnic groups.
Maltitol glycemic response
The mean glycemic response for maltitol was 33.5% in whites, 32.9% in Chinese, and 23.1% in South Indians.
Glucose vs maltitol
The study compared a high glycemic index drink (glucose) with a low glycemic index drink (maltitol).
What the authors conclude
“We conclude that different ethnic groups exhibit similar GR to low- and high-GI drinks, and GR to maltitol is similar irrespective of ethnic background.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that different ethnic groups exhibit similar glycemic responses to low- and high-GI drinks.
- They state that glycemic response to maltitol is similar irrespective of ethnic background.
How it was done
The authors note that low glycemic index diets may help manage and prevent diabetes and heart disease, but most studies of glycemic index have been done in white people. They wanted to see if blood sugar responses differ by ethnic origin.
In a randomized, single-blind crossover trial, 10 white, 10 South Indian and 10 Chinese subjects drank either a glucose or maltitol test drink containing 50 g of the test product on different occasions. Blood glucose was measured from finger-prick samples at several time points before and up to 180 minutes after the drink.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a small study with 10 people in each ethnic group, so the results may not apply to larger populations.
- The study only looked at a single dose of maltitol and glucose, so it cannot show what happens with long-term consumption.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Oxford Brookes University, UK
The paper
- Title
- No observable differences in glycemic response to maltitol in human subjects from 3 ethnically diverse groups
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Pratt M, Lightowler H, Henry CJ, Thabuis C, Wils D, Guérin-Deremaux L (2011). No observable differences in glycemic response to maltitol in human subjects from 3 ethnically diverse groups. Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.). doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2011.02.002PubMed 21481716DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error