Data published in Nutrients indicated that a 50-gram dose of isomaltulose not only lowers post-meal glucose spikes but may also improve hormonal balance over time and support metabolic stability across meals, compared to the rapidly digested sucrose.
Beneo’s Palatinose (isomaltulose) is produced via the enzymatic rearrangement of the glycosidic bond between the glucose and fructose linkage in sucrose. The carbohydrate is said to provide full carbohydrate energy (4 kcal/g) in a more balanced way, linked to its low-glycemic profile. As a result of its slow-release properties, Palatinose reaches the lower parts of the small intestine thereby promoting the release of GLP-1, according to Beneo.
“This study shows how smart sugar choices like Palatinose can help the body manage blood sugar not just after eating, but even hours later,” stated Dr. Stephan Theis, head of nutrition science and communication at Beneo, in a press release. “It strengthens the evidence for the second-meal effect, resulting from the sustained release of GLP-1 and PYY. The findings highlight the strong potential of functional carbohydrates in supporting long-term metabolic health.”
The second meal effect
GLP-1 has beneficial impacts on metabolism including the reduction of appetite, leading to weight loss potential. The benefits of the gut hormone are widely studied, and drugs mimicking the effects of GLP-1 are used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
Earlier research has indicated that meals with a low glycemic index not only enhance the metabolic response immediately after eating but can also reduce the glycemic and insulinemic responses to the following meal, a phenomenon referred to as the “second meal effect” (SME).
The SME is advantageous for managing blood sugar levels and is linked to decreased metabolic and cardiovascular risks, explained the researchers from China, Italy and Germany led by Professor Andreas Pfeiffer from the Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke.
“The sustained GLP-1 response observed with ISO [isomaltulose] may also contribute to SME, wherein the metabolic response to a subsequent meal is improved due to the prolonged presence of incretins,” they wrote, “This has important implications for dietary strategies aiming at improved glycemic control throughout the day.”
Study details
Professor Pfeiffer and his co-workers recruited 15 adults (mean age of 62) with metabolic syndrome, a condition characterized by central obesity, hypertension and disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism. The syndrome has been linked to increased risks of both Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
The participants in the double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled crossover trial followed two trial protocols: Protocol A included a breakfast with either 50 grams of isomaltulose or 50 grams of sucrose incorporated into a 500 milliliters citrus drink, followed by three hours of metabolic monitoring, a standardized lunch after three hours and a further six hours of monitoring afterwards. Protocol B comprised a breakfast followed by three hours of metabolic monitoring, the test drink three hours after breakfast and one hour before a standardized lunch, which was followed by five hours of monitoring. The key measurements monitored included blood glucose, insulin and gut hormones (GLP-1, PYY), which are known to promote satiety and support blood glucose control.
Results showed that isomaltulose resulted in a lower blood glucose response compared to sucrose, characterized by a significantly lower blood glucose peak. In parallel, the release of beneficial gut hormones GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and PYY (peptide tyrosine tyrosine) was increased.
This led to a slower and lower blood glucose response to lunch (the second-meal effect). The results indicated that adults with metabolic syndrome in particular benefit from this prolonged hormone response, leading to stabilized blood glucose levels and improved insulin release, suggesting increased insulin sensitivity.
“This is the first human evidence demonstrating that preload timing critically shapes ISO-driven PYY/GLP-1 co-secretion and SME efficacy,” the researchers wrote. “The prolonged PYY elevation observed with ISO may originate from its slow digestion kinetics.”
Source: Nutrients, 17(15), 2539. doi: 10.3390/nu17152539. “Gut Hormones and Postprandial Metabolic Effects of Isomaltulose vs. Saccharose Consumption in People with Metabolic Syndrome”. Authors: J. Zhang, et al.
