Objective: Dietary interventions with a low glycemic index have shown to be successful for the prevention and therapy of the metabolic syndrome. In the present study, we investigated the postprandial metabolic response at rest and during physical activity the low glycemic carbohydrate isomaltulose (Palatinose™) intake compared with a conventional carbohydrate (glucose syrup/sucrose [glc/suc]) with a higher glycemic index.
Methods: Twenty overweight or obese men (32-64 y old) with the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance were enrolled in this double-blinded, randomized, cross-over study. In the morning, a breakfast consisting of a 250-mL drink and 140 g of cookies containing in a total of 50 g of Palatinose™ or glc/suc was consumed. Two hours after breakfast, subjects exercised at moderate intensity on a treadmill for 30 min. Thereafter, subjects ingested a standardized lunch consisting of a 250-mL drink with 10% Palatinose™ or glc/suc, mini pizzas, and an apple.
Results: Blood levels of glucose and insulin were measured and the postprandial substrate metabolism was determined. The glycemic and insulinemic responses were considerably lower after the ingestion of Palatinose™ (incremental area under the curve, P < 0.05). The total fat oxidation was significantly higher with Palatinose™ from breakfast to the beginning of lunch including the exercise and postexercise periods (P < 0.05). Fat oxidation with Palatinose™ was numerically higher throughout the entire examination period (P = 0.09).
Conclusion: In obese subjects with insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome, the partial substitution of carbohydrates with a higher glycemic index in foods and drinks by Palatinose™ resulted in greater postprandial fat oxidation at rest and during physical activity. It is hypothesized that this increased fat oxidation may confer further benefits for long-term weight management and for an improvement in metabolic risk factors.
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