Table 5.

Effects of sugar alcohols on diabetic parameters.

Disease model	Treatment	Duration	Mechanisms of action	References
Type 2 diabetic rats	10% xylitol solution (Ad libitum)	4 weeks	Diabetic parameters including pancreatic morphology and serum lipids improved Reduction of blood glucose and serum fructosamine	[58]
Non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic rats	164.31–2628.99 mM xylitol in vitro. 657.25–2628.99 mM xylitol ex vivo. Xylitol (1 g/kg bw)	2 h Single oral dose	Inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities and jejunal glucose absorption. Improved muscle glucose uptake Delayed gastric emptying Reduced blood glucose level	[59]
Non-obese healthy men	25 g of xylitol	Single oral dose	Lower plasma glucose and insulin response compared to glucose	[65]
Non-diabetic human subjects	25 or 50 g of sorbitol	Single oral dose	Did not significantly elevate glucose levels	[70]
No-diabetic and type 2 diabetic rats	2.5–20% sorbitol ex vivo. Sorbitol (0.4 g/kg bw)	2 h Single oral dose	Inhibited jejunal glucose absorption. Increased muscle glucose uptake Delayed gastric emptying Reduced blood glucose level	[73]
Non-diabetic rats	Diet containing 20% mannitol	8 weeks	Normal glucose metabolism Lower serum insulin response and cholesterol concentrations	[74]
Non-diabetic human subjects	50 g of maltitol	Single oral dose	Lower plasma glucose and insulin response compared to sucrose	[77]
Non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic human subjects	30 or 50 g of maltitol		Lower plasma glucose and insulin response compared to sucrose	[78]
Non-obese healthy men	25 g of lactitol	Single oral dose	Rise in plasma glucose, insulin and C-peptide concentrations were lower compared to glucose	[65]
Non-diabetic healthy human subjects	30 g of isomalt (Daily)	4 weeks	Lower postprandial plasma glucose and reduced fructosamine compared to sucrose	[44]
Non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic rats	2.5–20% erythritol ex vivo. Erythritol (1 g/kg bw)	2 h Single oral dose	Increased muscle glucose uptake Reduced intestinal glucose absorption and gastric emptying	[85]
Type 2 diabetic rats	100, 200 or 400 mg of erythritol (Daily)	10 days	Decreased serum glucose levels compared to control Reduction of thio-barbituric acid reactive substances, creatinine and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural compared to control	[92]