The comparative gastrointestinal response of young children to the ingestion of 25 g sweets containing sucrose or isomalt

Sugar-free confectionery products containing the low-energy, non-cariogenic sweetener isomalt are widely available in the market place and increasingly aimed at children. However, over-consumption of such products may lead to gastrointestinal symptoms and/or osmotic diarrhoea. Little is known about the gastrointestinal tolerance of children following consumption of isomalt. The aim of the present study was to assess gastrointestinal symptoms in children following consumption of sugar-free confectionery containing isomalt compared with sweets containing sucrose. In a double-blind, randomised, controlled, crossover study, sixty-seven children aged 6-9 years ingested 25 g hard-boiled sweets containing either sucrose or isomalt on two consecutive test days. Isomalt sweets were received as enthusiastically as sucrose sweets and, when given the choice, 97 % of children asked to be given the isomalt or the sucrose sweets on the second test day. Most children did not report multiple symptoms and few experienced symptoms on both days of isomalt consumption. However, significantly more children reported stomach-ache (P<0·01), abdominal rumbling (P<0·025) and passing watery faeces (P<0·001) following consumption of isomalt sweets compared with sucrose sweets. Consumption of 25 g isomalt-containing sweets by children is not associated with significant gastrointestinal effects graded as `considerably more than usual' or multiple symptoms, but is associated with a laxative effect and increase in symptoms graded as `slightly more than usual'. For the majority of children in the present study, 25 g isomalt-containing sweets represents an acceptable level of consumption, although some children are sensitive to the effects of isomalt ingestion

The comparative gastrointestinal response of young children to the ingestion of 25 g sweets containing sucrose or isomalt

Sugar-free confectionery products containing the low-energy, non-cariogenic sweetener isomalt are widely available in the market place and increasingly aimed at children. However, over-consumption of such products may lead to gastrointestinal symptoms and/or osmotic diarrhoea. Little is known about the gastrointestinal tolerance of children following consumption of isomalt. The aim of the present study was to assess gastrointestinal symptoms in children following consumption of sugar-free confectionery containing isomalt compared with sweets containing sucrose. In a double-blind, randomised, controlled, crossover study, sixty-seven children aged 6-9 years ingested 25 g hard-boiled sweets containing either sucrose or isomalt on two consecutive test days. Isomalt sweets were received as enthusiastically as sucrose sweets and, when given the choice, 97 % of children asked to be given the isomalt or the sucrose sweets on the second test day. Most children did not report multiple symptoms and few experienced symptoms on both days of isomalt consumption. However, significantly more children reported stomach-ache (P<0·01), abdominal rumbling (P<0·025) and passing watery faeces (P<0·001) following consumption of isomalt sweets compared with sucrose sweets. Consumption of 25 g isomalt-containing sweets by children is not associated with significant gastrointestinal effects graded as `considerably more than usual' or multiple symptoms, but is associated with a laxative effect and increase in symptoms graded as `slightly more than usual'. For the majority of children in the present study, 25 g isomalt-containing sweets represents an acceptable level of consumption, although some children are sensitive to the effects of isomalt ingestion

The comparative gastrointestinal responses of children and adults following consumption of sweets formulated with sucrose, isomalt and lycasin HBC

Objectives: To determine the gastrointestinal responses of children and adults following consumption of sucrose, isomalt and lycasin HBC and to compare these at two different dose levels in adults. Design: Both studies were randomised, double-blind, cross-over designs. Subjects: Fifty-one children aged 6-9 y were recruited from primary schools in the Salford area of Greater Manchester. Forty-eight children completed the study. Fifty healthy adult volunteers aged 18-24 y were recruited from the student population of the University of Salford. All subjects completed the study. Interventions: Children consumed either 25 g of sucrose, isomalt or lycasin HBC and adults 25 and 40 g in hard boiled sweets per day for two consecutive test days. Test periods of 2 days were separated by 7 day washout periods. Children consumed sweets throughout test days and adults in no less than 30 min but no more than 90 min. Subjects reported the prevalence and magnitude of flatulence, borborygmi, bloating, colic, bowel movements and watery faeces. Results: Consumption of 25 g isomalt provoked a mild laxative effect in children but not in adults. Consumption of 25 g isomalt significantly increased the prevalence and magnitude of gastrointestinal responses in both children and adults. Consumption of 25 g lycasin HBC significantly increased borborygml in children and adults but no other gastrointestinal responses. Consumption of 40 g lycasin HBC or isomalt by adults significantly increased the mean frequency of bowel movements and the number of subjects passing watery faeces. In adults, 40 g isomalt and lycasin HBC provoked significantly more gastrointestinal responses compared to 25 g of either product. Conclusions: Consumption of 25 g lycasin HBC does not provoke an unacceptable laxative effect or gastrointestinal response in children or adults compared to 25 g isomalt, which is associated with a mild laxative effect and increase in gastrointestinal responses. In adults gastrointestinal responses following consumption of products were found to be dose dependent