Utilization of intravenous maltose

Ten healthy male subjects received an infusion of 10% maltose solution at a rate of 0.5 g/kg body weight/h for 345 min. Blood maltose levels rose continuously for the first hours; after 285 min a constant level was maintained. Concomitantly increasing maltosuria occurred; the total renal maltose excretion averaged 30.4% of the administered dose. In addition to maltose losses, considerable glucosuria (up to 16% of total carbohydrate excretion) was found. The glucosuria occurred in spite of normal blood glucose levels. Serum insulin did rise during maltose infusion.