Improved gastric emptying rate in humans of a unique glucose polymer with gel-forming properties.
BACKGROUND
The energy density of a nutrient drink is one of the main factors that affect the gastric emptying of the solution, while osmolality and viscosity are thought to have only a minimal influence.


METHODS
The rate of gastric emptying of two isoenergetic carbohydrate solutions with different osmolality and viscosity was determined using a double sampling gastric aspiration technique. Six healthy male subjects were studied on two occasions using approximately 550 ml of a solution containing 13.5% of carbohydrate either in the form of a mixture of monomeric glucose and short chain glucose oligomers (G-drink) or of long chain glucose polymers composed of 78% amylopectin and 22% amylose (C-drink).


RESULTS
The half emptying time (t(1/2), median and range) for the viscous, markedly hypotonic (62 mosmol/kg) C-drink was faster (17.0 (6.2-31.4) min) than for the moderately hypertonic (336 mosmol/kg) G-drink (32.6 (25.2-40.7) min). The amount (median and range) of carbohydrate delivered to the small intestine was greater during the first 10 min after ingestion of C-drink (31.8 (15.8-55.9) g) than after ingestion of G-drink (14.3 (6.8-22.2) g). However, there was no difference in the blood glucose (P = 0.73) or serum insulin (P = 0.38) concentration at any time point after ingestion of the two test drinks.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study show that the carbohydrate present in C-drink, although it has the propensity to form a gel, empties from the stomach faster than that of an isoenergetic carbohydrate solution (G-drink) without potentiating increased circulating blood glucose or insulin levels.
Leiper
J B
JB
Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, Aberdeen University, UK.
Aulin
K P
KP
Söderlund
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D002149:Energy Intake; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D005782:Gels; D005936:Glucans; D005950:Glucose Solution, Hypertonic; D006801:Humans; D007038:Hypotonic Solutions; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D014783:Viscosity
D001786:Blood Glucose; C425337:Carbamyl PU 24-002; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D005782:Gels; D005936:Glucans; C425338:Glucidex IT 38; D005950:Glucose Solution, Hypertonic; D007038:Hypotonic Solutions; D007328:Insulin; D012709:Serum Albumin