Beneo’s isomaltulose may boost GLP-1 release in overweight people: Study
Data published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research indicated that a 50 gram dose of Palatinose consumed an hour before a mixed meal test led to significantly greater increases in glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY), compared to the rapidly digested sucrose.
This indicated that the carbohydrate may have beneficial effects on metabolic parameters that are important for maintaining a healthy body weight, blood glucose control and cardiovascular health.
“Research on metabolism regulating gut hormones is an exciting topic for clinical nutrition and meal replacement applications,” said Dr. Stephan Theis, head of nutrition science at Beneo and co-author on the new paper. “This study’s focus on older, overweight and obese participants, with or without diabetes mellitus, makes it highly relevant for a large part of the global population.
“The findings add to the scientific evidence on isomaltulose’s ability to support metabolic health in daily life situations, including a higher secretion of the beneficial gut hormone GLP-1. Once again, Beneo’s slow-release carbohydrate Palatinose has been shown to be effective and suitable in product developments for weight management and blood glucose management.”
GLP-1 has beneficial impacts on metabolism including the reduction of appetite, leading to weight loss potential. The benefits of the gut hormone are widely studied, and drugs mimicking the effects of GLP-1 are used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
The findings of this latest study, which was funded by Beneo, suggest that Palatinose may enhance the release of the body’s own GLP-1.
Beneo’s Palatinose (isomaltulose) is produced via the enzymatic rearrangement of the glycosidic bond between the glucose and fructose linkage in sucrose. The carbohydrate is said to provide full carbohydrate energy (4kcal/g) in a more balanced way, linked to its low-glycaemic profile. As a result of its slow-release properties, Palatinose reaches the lower parts of the small intestine thereby promoting the release of GLP-1, according to Beneo.
Study details
Using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over design, the study was undertaken with 30 overweight/obese volunteers between the ages of 49 and 77 (15 of whom had type 2 diabetes). The participants were monitored for three hours after consuming breakfast and then given a snack with either 50 grams of isomaltulose or 50 grams of sucrose one hour before lunch .
The results showed that consumption of isomaltulose produced significantly higher GLP-1 levels than sucrose. The researcher, led by led by Prof. Andreas Pfeiffer from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, also found that the stronger release of gut hormones with Palatinose is not masked by a subsequent meal, the first time this effect has been reported, they said.
“The release of the incretin hormones GLP-1 and GIP was more strongly stimulated by isomaltulose compared to sucrose,” the researchers wrote. “This may explain the increased insulin secretion observed in T2DM patients and controls after isomaltulose vs sucrose. The increases of GLP-1 were greater in controls compared to T2DM after both isomaltulose or sucrose supporting a moderate impairment of GLP-1 responses in T2DM patients.”
Source: Molecular Nutrition and Food Research
2024, Volume 68, Issue 4:e2300086, doi: 10.1002/mnfr.202300086
“Isomaltulose Enhances GLP-1 and PYY Secretion to a Mixed Meal in People With or Without Type 2 Diabetes as Compared to Saccharose”
Authors: J. Zhang et al.
