Lactitol

• Lactobiosit
• Lactositol
• Lactitol
• (2S, 3R, 4R, 5R ) -4 - ( (2S, 3R, 4S, 5R, 6R) - 3,4,5- trihydroxy -6- hydroxymethyltetrahydropyran -2 -yloxy) hexan- 1, 2,3,5 0.6 - pentaol (IUPAC)
• 4-O- β -D - galactopyranosyl -D-glucitol (CAS WHO)
• E 966

• 585-86-4 ( lactitol )
• 81025-03-8 ( lactitol dihydrate )
• 81025-04-9 ( lactitol monohydrate · )

A06AD12

Laxatives

Osmotic laxative

Lactitol monohydrate ·

> 30,000 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, Rat, oral, lactitol monohydrate · )

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Lactitol ( food additive 966, lactitol ) is a synthetic sweetener which does not occur in nature. Lactitol is produced by catalytic hydrogenation of lactose under pressure. Here, the glucose part of the lactose is reduced to sorbitol ( glucitol ), but not the glycosidic bond broken. Lactitol is therefore chemically named 4-O- β -D - galactopyranosyl -D-glucitol. It is used as a sweetener for foodstuffs, particularly for diabetics. However, the sweetening power is about 30-40 % that of sucrose, so that distribution is limited as a sweetener.

Lactitol engages the teeth only slightly, but has a relatively strong laxative effect, and is therefore employed for this purpose. Long and intensive studies have shown that lactitol has no toxicologically significant side effects.

Commercially lactitol is sold in Austria and Switzerland under the name Importal ® as a laxative and as a sweetener ( Lacty ®).