E966 Sweetener

E966 is used in a variety of low food energy or low-fat foods. A high stability makes it popular for baking. It is used in sugar-free candies, cookies (biscuits), chocolate, and ice cream, with a sweetness of 30–40% that of sucrose.E966 also promotes colon health as a prebiotic. Because of poor absorption, E966 only has 2–2.5 kilocalories (8.4–10.5 kilojoules) per gram, compared to 4 kilocalories (17 kJ) per gram for typical saccharides. Hence, E966 is about 60% as caloric as typical saccharides.

E966 is listed as an excipient in some prescription drugs.

E966 is a laxative and is used to prevent or treat constipation, e.g., under the trade name Important.

E966 is approved for use in the United States as an osmotic laxative for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults.

E966 in combination with Ispaghula husk is an approved combination for idiopathic constipation as a laxative and is used to prevent or treat constipation.