Lactitol (inci)

Lactitol belongs chemically to the synthetic sugar alcohols. The molecule is obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of lactose. It has the molecular formula C12H24O11.

Cosmetics: Lactitol is used in cosmetic formulations and acts as a moisturizer (preserves the moisture of the skin) and skin care product.

Allergology/Allergological relevance: As a food additive, lactitol is considered harmless. From an allergological point of view, lactitol as an external agent is also considered harmless.

Lactitol has about 30 - 40 % of the sweetening power of sucrose. The lactose derivative lactitol is used as a sweetener and is listed as a food additive under the number E 996. Lactitol is also used as a carrier for sweetener tablets and in toothpastes (lactitol does not attack the teeth much).

Lactitol is broken down enzymatically only very slowly. When consumed in large quantities, lactitol arrives in large quantities in the large intestine, where the substance is broken down by intestinal bacteria to form gases and free fatty acids such as butyric acid. This process leads to irritation of the mucous membrane and has a laxative effect (Miller LE et al. 2014). Consumption of larger quantities can lead to diarrhoea, abdominal pain and flatulence, comparable to lactose intolerance or fructose intolerance. Foods in which the proportion of sugar substitutes is more than 10 % indicate this laxative effect. Lactitol is used as a non-absorbable disaccharide in hepatic encephalopathy (Gluud LL et al. 2016).

1. Gluud LL et al (2016) Non-absorbable disaccharides versus placebo/no intervention and lactulose versus lactitol for the prevention and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy in people with cirrhosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev CD003044.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27153247
2. Maydeo A (2010) Lactitol or lactulose in the treatment of chronic constipation: result of a systematic. J Indian Med Assoc 108:789-792.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21510584
3. Miller LE et al (2014) Efficacy and tolerance of lactitol supplementation for adult constipation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Exp Gastroenterol 7:241-248.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25050074
4. Patil DH et al (1987) Lactitol, a new hydrogenated lactose derivative: intestinal absorption and laxative threshold in normal human subjects. Br J Nutr 57:195-199. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3552029