Effect of carbohydrate digestibility on appetite and its relationship to postprandial blood glucose and insulin levels.
OBJECTIVE
'Slowly digestible' carbohydrates have been claimed to reduce appetite through their effects on postprandial glucose and insulin levels, but literature is inconsistent. The inconsistencies between studies might be explained by factors other than glycemic effects per se, for example, nutritional or physical properties. We tested this possibility by examining postprandial glucose, insulin and appetite responses to drinks differing only in rate and extent of digestibility of carbohydrates. This was accomplished by comparing different glucose polymers: maltodextrin (rapidly digestible) versus medium-chain pullulan (slowly but completely digestible) versus long-chain pullulan (indigestible).


METHODS
In a randomized double-blind balanced crossover design, 35 subjects received drinks with 15 g test carbohydrate polymers. Key outcome measures were appetite scores, digestibility (in vitro test and breath hydrogen), and (in a subset) glucose and insulin levels.


RESULTS
Digestibility, glucose and insulin data confirmed the rapid, slow and nondigestible nature of the test carbohydrates. Despite its low digestibility, only long-chain pullulan reduced appetite compared with the maltodextrin control, whereas the medium-chain pullulan did not.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that glycemic responses per se have minimal effects on appetite, when tested in products differing in only carbohydrate digestibility rate and extent.
Peters
H P F
HP
Unilever Research and Development, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands. harry.peters@unilever.com
Ravestein
P
P
van der Hijden
H T W M
HT
Boers
H M
HM
Mela
D J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001066:Appetite; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004063:Digestion; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005936:Glucans / Q000378:metabolism; D038321:Glycemic Index; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D019518:Postprandial Period; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D005936:Glucans; D007328:Insulin; D011134:Polysaccharides; C008315:maltodextrin; C009109:pullulan