Chemical Properties
colourless crystals or white powder
Chemical Properties
Maltose occurs as white crystals or as a crystalline powder. It is
odorless and has a sweet taste approximately 30% that of sucrose.
Originator
Maltos-10 ,Otsuka ,Japan ,1974
Occurrence
Maltose also is formed by yeast during breadmaking.
Production Methods
Maltose monohydrate is prepared by the enzymatic degradation of
starch.
Manufacturing Process
The process of manufacturing a maltose product from a suitably purified starch source includes preparing an aqueous starchy suspension, adjusting the acidity thereof to from 4.6 to 6.0 pH, liquefying the suspension by heating in the presence of a diastatic agent, diastatically saccharifying the liquefied mixture, filtering, and concentrating the liquid to a syrup.
Therapeutic Function
Sugar supplement
Pharmaceutical Applications
Maltose is a disaccharide carbohydrate widely used in foods and
pharmaceuticals. In parenteral products, maltose may be used as a
source of sugar, particularly for diabetic patients.
Crystalline maltose is used as a direct-compression tablet
excipient in chewable and nonchewable tablets.
Safety
Maltose is used in oral and parenteral pharmaceutical formulations
and is generally regarded as an essentially nontoxic and nonirritant
material. However, there has been a single report of a liver
transplantation patient with renal failure who developed hyponatremia
following intravenous infusion of normal immunoglobulin
in 10% maltose. The effect, which recurred on each of four
successive infusions, resembled that of hyperglycemia and was
thought to be due to accumulation of maltose and other osmotically
active metabolites in the extracellular fluid.
LD50 (mouse, IV): 26.8 g/kg
LD50 (mouse, SC): 38.6 g/kg
LD50 (rabbit, IV): 25.2 g/kg
LD50 (rat, IP): 30.6 g/kg
LD50 (rat, IV): 15.3 g/kg
LD50 (rat, oral): 34.8 g/kg
storage
Maltose should be stored in a well-closed container in a cool, dry
place.
Incompatibilities
Maltose may react with oxidizing agents. A Maillard-type reaction
may occur between maltose and compounds with a primary amine
group, e.g. glycine, to form brown-colored products.
Regulatory Status
In the USA, maltose is considered as a food by the FDA and is
therefore not subject to food additive and GRAS regulations.
Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (oral solutions).
Included in the Canadian List of Acceptable Non-medicinal
Ingredients. Included in parenteral products available in a number
of countries worldwide.
