Spektralphotometrische Untersuchungen zum Gehalt an niedermolekularen Kohlenhydraten in maltodextrinhaltigen Säuglings-und Kindernahrungen

Abstract

The sugar content of the following products was tested by means of a photometric enzyme test used routinely in scientific food analysis: 10 maltodextrin and corn syrup primary products (tested sugars: glucose, maltose and maltotriose), 7 maltodextrin-containing instant teas for children and 1 protein-based (maltodextrin-free) control tea (tested sugars: glucose, maltose, maltotriose, fructose, sucrose); 10 maltodextrin and/or corn syrup-containing infant formulas and one control formula without declared maltodextrin or corn syrup (tested sugars: glucose, maltose, maltotriose, sucrose, fructose, lactose and galactose). The pH-values of the instant tea standard solutions were measured in order determine their potential erosive effect on the enamel. Data on the content of low molecular weight carbohydrates supplied by the manufacturers was compared with the values determined in the tests.
Total sugar determined in the maltodextrin primary products was between 0,5 and 14,7 g per 100 g powdery product. The corn syrup values ranged from 18,7 to 58,2 g per 100 g powder. It was concluded that the two legal categories maltodextrin and corn syrup represent two considerably heterogenous groups of materials which may contain most varying amounts of the low molecular weight sugars glucose and maltose/maltotriose.
According to the data supplied on the product packages the maltodextrin-containing instant teas for children contained between 87 g and 95 g carbohydrates per 100 g powder. The sugar content measured in the standard solutions ranged from 0,1 to 0,7 g per 100 ml and was therefore much lower than in the standard solutions of the first "sugar tea" generation products available in Germany between 1980 and 1985. These instant teas had contained up to 9,6 g sugar per 100 ml standard solution.
The tested teas all had sour pH-values ranging from 4,6 to 6,1. When applied to the teeth frequently and in the long term, these sour solutions must be considered as critical regarding enamel demineralization.
Sugar concentrations determined in the maltodextrin- and/or corn syrup-containing infant formulas ranged from 4,0 to 6,23 g per 100 ml standard solution. All tested products contained glucose polymers of differing chain length, more specifically low molecular weight sugars, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides derived from maltodextrins and corn syrups, and starch. In most cases the declaration supplied by the manufacturers of the infant food products did not correspond to the complexity of the contained maltodextrins and corn syrups. As a result the consumer receives only insufficient information regarding the different carbohydrates added to the products. Further, the total values of low molecular weight carbohydrates (sugars) found in the products must be regarded as potentially cariogenous when consumed by means of plastic baby bottles by young children of more than one year of age.