L-arabinose co-ingestion delays glucose absorption derived from sucrose in healthy men and women: a double-blind, randomised crossover trial

• Published in: British journal of nutrition 2022-09, Vol.128 (6), p.1072-1081
• Main Authors: Pasmans, Kenneth, Meex, Ruth C.R., Trommelen, Jorn, Senden, Joan M.G., Vaughan, Elaine E., van Loon, Luc J.C., Blaak, Ellen E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; Adult; Alcoholic beverages; Arabinose; Arabinose - pharmacology; Beverages; Blood Glucose; Body mass index; Carbohydrates; Cross-Over Studies; Diabetes; Digestion; Double-blind studies; Eating; Female; Glucose; Human and Clinical Nutrition; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Ingestion; Insulin; Intravenous administration; Intravenous infusion; Kinetics; Laboratories; Male; Medical research; Mens health; Plasma; Postprandial Period; Stable isotopes; Sucrose; Womens health
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114521004153

Dietary interventions to delay carbohydrate digestion or absorption can effectively prevent hyperglycaemia in the early postprandial phase. L-arabinose can specifically inhibit sucrase. It remains to be assessed whether co-ingestion of L-arabinose with sucrose delays sucrose digestion, attenuates subsequent glucose absorption and impacts hepatic glucose output. In this double-blind, randomised crossover study, we assessed blood glucose kinetics following ingestion of a 200-ml drink containing 50 g of sucrose with 7·5 g of L-arabinose (L-ARA) or without L-arabinose (CONT) in twelve young, healthy participants (24 ± 1 years; BMI: 22·2 ± 0·5 kg/m2). Plasma glucose kinetics were determined by a dual stable isotope methodology involving ingestion of (U-13C6)-glucose-enriched sucrose, and continuous intravenous infusion of (6,6–2H2)-glucose. Peak glucose concentrations reached 8·18 ± 0·29 mmol/l for CONT 30 min after ingestion. In contrast, the postprandial rise in plasma glucose was attenuated for L-ARA, because peak glucose concentrations reached 6·62 ± 0·18 mmol/l only 60 min after ingestion. The rate of exogenous glucose appearance for L-ARA was 67 and 57 % lower compared with CONT at t = 15 min and 30 min, respectively, whereas it was 214 % higher at t = 150 min, indicating a more stable absorption of exogenous glucose for L-ARA compared with CONT. Total glucose disappearance during the first hour was lower for L-ARA compared with CONT (11 ± 1 v. 17 ± 1 g, P < 0·0001). Endogenous glucose production was not differentially affected at any time point (P = 0·27). Co-ingestion of L-arabinose with sucrose delays sucrose digestion, resulting in a slower absorption of sucrose-derived glucose without causing adverse effects in young, healthy adults.