FDA gives isomaltulose health claim green light

The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized a non-cariogenic health claim for the carbohydrate sweetener isomaltulose.

Marketed under the brand Palatinose by German manufacturer Palatinit, the sweetener is said to maintain sweetness while also having a low glycemic effect. It can be used to enhance the nutritional value of foods since it is digested much more slowly than sucrose, providing energy over a longer time period.

Receiving the FDA health claim approval represents a significant achievement for the company as it permits its food and beverage clients to now make product claims.

The term "cariogenic" refers to a substance that stimulates tooth decay. It is a common description for sugars that can easily be digested by oral bacteria, such as sucrose, fructose, and lactose.

Steve - unfortunately, the FDA makes this claim only from in-vivo and ex-vivo trials on rats, not humans. I suggest waiting several years to see how this substance is tolerated in the general public. I don't want our clients to be guinea pigs. I would say the only circumstance that would warrant trying isomaltulose would be for those who do not tolerate Xiylitol because it is predominately corn-derived. Otherwise, xylitol has an unmatched safety record, data from human trials, and we have recommended it for years. It is also non-cariogenic.