Ethnic Variability in Glycemic Response to Sucrose and Isomaltulose

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the glycemic response of Caucasians and Asians to two disaccharides of different glycemic index (GI), and to examine if ethnic groups that showed the largest glycemic response to sucrose would benefit the most when it is replaced with isomaltulose. Forty healthy participants (10 Chinese; 10 Malays; 10 Caucasians; and 10 Indians) consumed beverages containing 50 g of sucrose or isomaltulose on two separate occasions using a randomized crossover design. Capillary blood glucose was measured in a fasted state and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after beverage ingestion. Glycemic response to sucrose was significantly higher in Malays compared to Caucasians (p = 0.041), but did not differ between Caucasians vs. Chinese (p = 0.145) or vs. Indians (p = 0.661). When sucrose was replaced with isomaltulose, glycemic responses were significantly reduced in all ethnic groups, with the largest reduction in glycemic response being observed in Malays. Malays, who had the greatest glycemic response to sucrose, also showed the greatest improvement in glycemic response when sucrose was replaced with isomaltulose. This implies that Malays who are more susceptible to type 2 diabetes mellitus may benefit from strategies that replace high GI carbohydrate with lower GI alternatives to assist in glycemic control.

The effect on satiety of ingesting isosweet and isoenergetic sucrose- and isomaltulose-sweetened beverages: a randomised crossover trial

“…In our study, participants abstained from food and beverage for 2-h following a mid-day meal and the glycaemic and insulinaemic responses in response to isomaltulose ingestion remained below the pre-ingestion values. This pattern of response differs to that found after an overnight fast in which rises in blood glucose and insulin concentrations to an isomaltulose beverage have been found (23,24) . A possible explanation is that our participants were still in a postprandial state at the time of test beverage ingestion as suggested by the mean pre-ingestion glucose concentration of 7•0 mmol/l.…”

“…A possible explanation is that our participants were still in a postprandial state at the time of test beverage ingestion as suggested by the mean pre-ingestion glucose concentration of 7•0 mmol/l. This is relatively high for a young group of people given the overnight fasting blood glucose concentration in a Caucasian group with a mean age of 27•5 years was 4•8 mmol/l (23) . Indeed, blood glucose concentrations are affected by the duration of fast, continuing to decline in young people past a 2-h postprandial period (25) .…”

A Review of Rice Starch Digestibility: Effect of Composition and Heat‐Moisture Processing

“…Glucose concentration in collected blood is estimated by Yellow Spring Instrument (YSI) . The genetic variation among subjects may potentially affect the finding through in vivo assay …”

“…[19,20] The genetic variation among subjects may potentially affect the finding through in vivo assay. [21] In vitro starch digestibility assays using a range of digestive enzymes from different sources are often employed as a simple alternative to in vivo assays. Individual enzymes such as human and porcine salivary α-amylase, [22,23] porcine pancreatic α-amylase, [22] porcine pepsin [22] and invertase, [24] fungal α-amyloglucosidase [25] as well as enzymes from porcine pancreas (pancreatin) [26] and enzymes from rat intestine (rat intestinal acetone powder) [27] have been used for in vitro starch digestibility assays.…”

Reducing the glycemic impact of carbohydrates on foods and meals: Strategies for the food industry and consumers with special focus on Asia

“…In addition to rice and noodles, the traditional Asian diet is heavily represented by foods derived from carbohydrate cereals, flours, and starches such as rice porridge, steamed buns ( bao ), and glutinous rice cakes ( kuehs ). There is mounting evidence to show that Asians have higher postprandial blood glucose levels and poorer insulin sensitivity than Caucasians for the same foods ingested (Chandalia et al., ; Dickinson, Colagiuri, Faramus, Petocz, & Brand‐Miller, ; Kataoka et al., ; Tan, Tan, & Henry, ; Venn, Williams, & Mann, ), which puts them at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Within Asians, the Malay and Indian ethnic groups also have significantly higher postprandial blood glucose excursions compared to the Chinese (Tan et al., ; Tan et al., ; Tan, Wan‐Yi Peh, Marangoni, & Henry, ).…”