“Dietary supplement and functional food innovation requires ingredient providers to substantiate clinical benefits at dosages that are compatible with commercial formats and prices so that these benefits can ultimately be realized by consumers,” wrote the researchers from MSP Starch Products Inc., the University of Nebraska and the University of Victoria (Canada) in Metabolites.
“Therefore, high RS [resistant starch] doses that demonstrate metabolic improvements represent a challenge from a product development and commercialization standpoint. The findings from this study are relevant as they present evidence suggesting that 3.5 g of RPS [resistant potato starch] per day can improve FFA levels, an early marker of insulin resistance.”
Solnul
Solnul-branded resistant starch is derived from potatoes. The ingredient was developed by MSP, the largest potato starch producer in Canada. The Solnul brand name is derived from the Latin name for potato, Solanum tuberosum, and granule.
The company has been steadily building the scientific portfolio for its prebiotic, defined by ISAPP as “a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit.” (Gibson, et al. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol, (2017) 14, 491–502)
Published data shows that 3.5 g/day of Solnul significantly increases the abundance of not only Bifidobacterium but also leads to a 238% increase in the relative abundance of Akkermansia (Nutrients, 15(7), 1582), a next-generation probiotic that has been shown to increase the production of GLP-1, a hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels, weight management and appetite.
Since GLP-1 is produced by specialized intestinal cells in response to microbial activity, it is possible that Solnul is decreasing FFA levels via Akkermansia activity and GLP-1 effects, said the company in a press release.
“When studying metabolic parameters in healthy populations, it’s critical to measure the earliest possible markers of metabolic dysfunction,” said Dr. Jason Bush, chief scientific officer at MSP Starch Products Inc. and lead author on the new study.
“It is exciting to see such a low dose of resistant starch produce meaningful reductions in free fatty acid levels, a marker of insulin sensitivity. These findings reinforce what we’ve always believed about resistant starch: It has a foundational role connecting the microbiome to metabolic health.”
Study details
Dr. Bush and his co-workers performed an exploratory post hoc analysis of data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial that investigated the effects of one- and four-weeks of supplementation with 3.5 g/day of Solnul or placebo.
Analysis of free fatty acids (FFAs), bile acids (BAs) and ketone bodies showed that Solnul led to significant reductions in FFAs compared to placebo.
“Given that Akkermansia plays a role in stimulating GLP-1 secretion and that RPS was previously shown in a Western diet T2D [type-2 diabetes] swine model to elevate GLP-1 levels, decrease fasting blood glucose and attenuate insulin resistance, we may speculate that reduced FFA levels are a consequence of enhanced insulin signaling due to elevated GLP-1, which might be driven by an enrichment of Akkermansia in those consuming RPS,” the researchers wrote.
“However, future trials examining the effect of RPS on GLP-1, insulin sensitivity and fasting blood glucose in people with insulin resistance are warranted to confirm these effects.”
The five types of Resistant Starch
RS1 and RS2 are not digestible due to their structure: Starch is protected by either cell walls or by the granule and is not accessible to the intestinal enzyme (Solnul is RS2).
For RS3 and RS4, starch is modified (cooking and cooling = retrogradation for RS3 and chemically for RS4) making it undigestible and resistant to the attack of intestinal enzymes.
RS5 is a specific complex with starch and lipid, thus preventing granule dissolution during cooking.
Source: Metabolites
2024, 14(10), 536; doi: 10.3390/metabo14100536
“Resistant Potato Starch Supplementation Reduces Serum Free Fatty Acid Levels and Influences Bile Acid Metabolism”
Authors: J.R. Bush et al.