[Influence of maltitol on lipid metabolism: fatty acid composition of the heart and brain of the rat].

Maltitol is a disaccharide molecule with special physicochemical characteristics due to a glycosidic bond which is not easily split by the natural disaccharidases. This study was designed to investigate possible metabolic consequences of maltitol feeding (replacing one third of carbohydrate quota in the diet) on the lipid metabolism and particularly on the fatty acid composition of rat heart and brain. Result did not show, for group fed with maltitol, significant composition difference. Therefore this glucide can not be considered responsible for metabolic alteration on studied organs.