Maltose
Malt sugar formed from breaking down starch.
What is Maltose?
Maltose is a sugar made of two glucose molecules, produced when starch is broken down — for example as grains germinate or during digestion. It gives malted foods and some syrups their characteristic sweetness and is common in brewing and baking.
Health benefits of Maltose
- A readily used source of glucose and energy
- Forms naturally as the body digests starch
Top food sources of Maltose
See full rankingMalted grains and malt syrup, some cereals, beer and starchy foods. Values shown per 100 g.
Cereals ready-to-eat, POST, GRAPE-NUTS Cereal
10.4 g
Formulated bar, SLIM-FAST OPTIMA meal bar, milk chocolate peanut
10.0 g
McDONALD'S, Low Fat Caramel Sauce
8.1 g
Sweet potato, cooked, baked in skin, with salt
6.7 g
Kamut, uncooked
6.6 g
Candies, TOOTSIE ROLL, chocolate-flavor roll
6.5 g
Formulated bar, LUNA BAR, NUTZ OVER CHOCOLATE
6.2 g
Formulated bar, MARS SNACKFOOD US, SNICKERS Marathon Energy Bar, all flavors
5.4 g
McDONALD'S, Hotcakes (with 2 pats margarine & syrup)
5.2 g
Spelt, uncooked
5.2 g
Pie, pecan, commercially prepared
5.0 g
HOT POCKETS, meatballs & mozzarella stuffed sandwich, frozen
4.8 g
How much Maltose do you need?
There is no Daily Value for maltose; added maltose counts toward the 50 g added-sugar Daily Value.
Maltose deficiency
There is no dietary requirement for maltose; it is a normal product of starch digestion.
Can you have too much Maltose?
As an added sugar in syrups and malted products, large amounts carry the same concerns as other added sugars.
Nutrition data per 100 g from the USDA & FooDB databases. Daily Values follow the FDA 2016+ labeling standard for a 2,000-calorie diet. This guide is for general information and is not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does Maltose do?
Maltose is a sugar made of two glucose molecules, produced when starch is broken down — for example as grains germinate or during digestion. It gives malted foods and some syrups their characteristic sweetness and is common in brewing and baking.
How much Maltose do I need per day?
There is no Daily Value for maltose; added maltose counts toward the 50 g added-sugar Daily Value.
Which foods are highest in Maltose?
Per 100 g, some of the richest sources are Cereals ready-to-eat, POST, GRAPE-NUTS Cereal, Formulated bar, SLIM-FAST OPTIMA meal bar, milk chocolate peanut, McDONALD'S, Low Fat Caramel Sauce, Sweet potato, cooked, baked in skin, with salt, Kamut, uncooked.
What happens if I don't get enough Maltose?
There is no dietary requirement for maltose; it is a normal product of starch digestion.
Can you have too much Maltose?
As an added sugar in syrups and malted products, large amounts carry the same concerns as other added sugars.