Glycemic, insulinemic, and breath hydrogen responses to pullulan in healthy humans

• Published in: Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2005-12, Vol.25 (12), p.1029-1041
• Main Authors: Spears, Julie K., Karr-Lilienthal, Lisa K., Grieshop, Christine M., Flickinger, Elizabeth A., Wolf, Bryan W., Fahey, George C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adults; Biological and medical sciences; blood glucose; Breath hydrogen; breathing; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glucose tolerance; glycemic index; Glycemic response; Humans; hydrogen; hyperinsulinemia; insulin; Insulinemic response; maltodextrins; molecular weight; Pullulan; randomized clinical trials; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0271-5317; 1879-0739
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2005.09.011

The objective of this study was to evaluate the glycemic, insulinemic, and breath hydrogen responses of healthy adult humans to low–molecular weight pullulan (molecular weight = 6300). Subjects (n = 34) consumed 50 g of maltodextrin or low–molecular weight pullulan in a randomized, double-masked, crossover design. Plasma glucose and serum insulin responses were determined over 180 minutes, and breath hydrogen response was determined for 8 hours. Low–molecular weight pullulan did not improve glucose response, but a reduction ( P < .05) in serum insulin at 30, 60, and 90 minutes was noted. Peak insulin and area under the curve were reduced ( P < .05) by 23% and 20%, respectively. Breath hydrogen increased ( P < .05) at 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 hours. Although low–molecular weight pullulan does not impact glycemia per se, it may reduce insulin response, resulting in decreased insulin concentrations in healthy adult humans.