Sugar absorption sucrose

Fig. 1 Absorption scan (A) and fluorescence scan (B) of a chromatogram track with 200 ng sugar per chromatogram zone raffmose (1), lactose (2) sucrose (3), glucose (4) and fructose...

Acarbose and Miglitol These agents are specific inhibitors of intestinal glucosidases and reduce the conversion of sucrose and starch to glucose. Their main effect is a delay, not a complete inhibition, of the absorption of carbohydrates. Postprandial blood sugar excursions are effectively reduced. Because a small portion of the carbohydrates enters the colon, their microbial degradation frequently causes flatulence or... 

Fig. 1 (A) Chromatographic separation of sugars. Track 1 fructose, 2 sucrose, 3 glucose, 4 mixture of the substances in tracks 1-3, 5 mixture of substances in tracks 1-3 and 6, 6 Fructo-oligosaccharides, 7 1-kestose, 8 mixture of glucose, maltose, maltotriose and maltotetraose. (B) Absorption scan of track 5 with 200 ng each substance per chromatogram zone 1 = fructosyl-nystose, 2 = nystose, 3 = 1-kestose, 4 = fructose, 5 = sucrose, 6 = glucose.

Lactitol. Lactitol (4-0-/ -D-galactopyranosyl-D-sorbitol), is a synthetic sugar alcohol produced on reduction of lactose, usually using Raney nickel. It can be crystallized as a mono- or di-hydrate. Lactitol is not metabolized by higher animals it is relatively sweet and hence has potential as a non-nutritive sweetener. It is claimed that lactitol reduces the absorption of sucrose, blood and liver cholesterol levels and to be anticariogenic. It has applications in low-calorie foods (jams, marmalade, chocolate, baked goods) it is non-hygroscopic and can be used to coat moisture-sensitive foods, e.g. sweets. 

Polyols are frequently used sugar substitutes and are particularly suited to situations where their different sensory and functional properties are attractive. In addition to sweetness, some of the polyols have other useful properties. For example, although it contains the same number of calories/gram as other sweeteners, sorbitol is absorbed more slowly from the digestive tract than is sucrose. It is, therefore, useful in making foods intended for special diets. When consumed in large quantities (1-2 oz 25,059 g)/dav, sorbitol can have a laxative effect, apparently because of its comparatively slow intestinal absorption. 

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