Interaction between physical structure and amylose:amylopectin ratio of foods on postprandial glucose and insulin responses in healthy subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of amylose content on postprandial glucose and insulin responses in healthy subjects by serving fixed amounts of simple starchy foods with a varying but strictly controlled water, fat and guar gum content.


METHODS
A blind, randomised, balanced cross-over study.


METHODS
The kitchen of the Nutrition Research Unit in the Unilever Research Laboratorium.


METHODS
Apparently healthy employees of Unilever Research Laboratorium.


METHODS
Subjects consumed, after an overnight fast, either a drink (12 men), a pudding (6 men and 6 women), a roll without (5 men and 6 women) or a roll with guar gum (12 men) as breakfast and the same amount of the same food as mid-morning snack. Each subject consumed the experimental food prepared in four ways: either with high- or normal-amylose starch, and with or without added fat. At 30 and 90 min after consumption of the breakfast or the snack a blood sample was taken for determination of glucose and insulin.


RESULTS
Raising the amount of amylose in starchy drinks and puddings, but not in rolls, lowered postprandial glucose and insulin responses. Fat addition to starchy drinks, puddings and rolls attenuated postprandial glucose responses, irrespective of the amount of amylose or guar gum present. Addition of guar gum to rolls reduced glucose and insulin responses. Glucose tolerance tended to be less after consumption of the experimental foods as mid-morning snack than after consumption as breakfast.


CONCLUSIONS
The physico-chemical composition of foods does influence the effect of the amylose:amylopectin ratio in starchy foods on postprandial glucose and insulin responses.
Heijnen
M L
ML
Unilever Research Laboratorium, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands.
van Amelsvoort
J M
JM
Weststrate
J A
JA
D000687:Amylopectin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000688:Amylose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009753:Nutritive Value; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D000688:Amylose; D000687:Amylopectin