A review of the clinical toleration studies of polydextrose in food

Polydextrose is a non-digestible 1 kcal/g polysaccharide used primarily as a sugar replacer and dietary fiber in foods. At typical use levels, polydextrose provides physiological effects similar to those of other dietary fibers. However, excessive consumption of non-digestible carbohydrates can lead...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Food and chemical toxicology 2004-09, Vol.42 (9), p.1531-1542
Main Authors: Flood, M.T., Auerbach, M.H., Craig, S.A.S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adults
Biological and medical sciences
bloat
borborygmi
Cathartics
children
clinical trials
colic
diarrhea
Dietary Carbohydrates - adverse effects
Dietary fiber
Dietary Fiber - adverse effects
digestibility
dosage
feces
flatus
food additives
Food Additives - adverse effects
food intolerance
gas production (biological)
Gastrointestinal Diseases - etiology
Glucans - adverse effects
glucose
Humans
Laxation
laxatives
Medical sciences
Non-digestible carbohydrates
Polydextrose
polysaccharides
purgative properties
rumen fermentation
sugar replacer
sugar substitutes
Toleration
Toxicology
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Summary:Polydextrose is a non-digestible 1 kcal/g polysaccharide used primarily as a sugar replacer and dietary fiber in foods. At typical use levels, polydextrose provides physiological effects similar to those of other dietary fibers. However, excessive consumption of non-digestible carbohydrates can lead to gastrointestinal distress. Nine clinical studies were conducted with polydextrose to evaluate the extent of such symptoms. These studies determined laxation endpoints in adults and children, and showed that polydextrose was better tolerated than most other low digestible carbohydrates (e.g. polyols). This is because of a higher molecular weight and partial colonic fermentation, leading to a lower risk of osmotic diarrhea. After evaluating these studies, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the European Commission Scientific Committee for Food (EC/SCF) concluded that polydextrose has a mean laxative threshold of ∼90 g/d (1.3 g/kg bw) or 50 g as a single dose.
ISSN:0278-6915
1873-6351
DOI:10.1016/j.fct.2004.04.015