Maltitol has 2.1 calories per gram – about half of sugar – with a GI of ~35. It is the sugar alcohol that raises blood glucose the most, higher than erythritol or xylitol. Digestive tolerance threshold is ~40 g/day in adults; exceeding this commonly causes osmotic laxative effects.
How should I track Maltitol?
When tracking Maltitol, measuring by weight on a kitchen scale gives you the most precision. Volume measures vary depending on crystal size and powder density — a heaping spoonful can be double a level one. Research shows visual estimation errors reach 50–200% for calorie-dense foods (Almiron-Roig et al., Appetite 2013), and liquid sweeteners like honey are among the easiest to over-pour. For zero-calorie sweeteners, bulking agents add trace calories (2–4 per packet) — negligible in your daily total. For calorie-containing sweeteners, the scale is essential.