Cornstarch ingestion after oral glucose loading: effect on glucose concentrations, hormone response, and symptoms in patients with postprandial hypoglycemic syndrome.
In susceptible individuals ingestion of glucose can lead to clinical symptoms of hypoglycemia as well as a reflex rise of counterregulatory hormones. We hypothesized that cornstarch, a slowly absorbed starch, might prevent hypoglycemic-symptom episodes. Eight patients who had characteristic signs, symptoms, and reflex hormonal responses of hypoglycemia at the glucose nadir after ingesting 75 g glucose (OGTT) participated. Patients ingested 75 g glucose followed by 75 g raw cornstarch (OGTT + CS). None of the patients reported symptoms or had signs of hypoglycemia in response to OGTT + CS. The glucose nadir concentration during OGTT + CS (3.8 +/- 0.6 mmol/L) was significantly higher than during OGTT (3.2 +/- 0.6; P less than 0.03). The responses of cortisol (331 +/- 166 nmol) and epinephrine (491 +/- 589 pmol/L) at the glucose nadir during OGTT + CS were significantly lower than the responses of cortisol (524 +/- 193 nmol/L; P less than 0.003) and epinephrine 1834 +/- 1135 pmol/L (P less than 0.0005) during OGTT. A slowly absorbed starch such as cornstarch may be an effective component in dietary management of this disorder.
Lozano
R
R
Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
Chalew
S A
SA
Kowarski
A A
AA
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013213:Starch / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013577:Syndrome; D003313:Zea mays
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D013213:Starch; D005947:Glucose