Acute fuel selection in response to high-sucrose and high-starch meals in healthy men

Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Jun;71(6):1516-24. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/71.6.1516.

Abstract

Background: Despite considerable controversy over the inclusion of sucrose in the diets of people with diabetes, the acute metabolism of sucrose is not completely understood.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the metabolism of the monomeric constituents of sucrose after a high-sucrose meal.

Design: Three test meals were consumed in a randomized, crossover design by 7 healthy male volunteers. Two of the meals were high in sucrose; one was supplemented with 200 mg uniformly labeled [13C]fructose and one was supplemented with 200 mg [13C]glucose. The other meal was high in starch, supplemented with 200 mg [13C]glucose. Fifty percent of energy was supplied as sucrose in the high-sucrose meals and as starch in the high-starch meal. Breath (13)CO(2) enrichment was measured at 15-min intervals and indirect calorimetry was performed for five 20-min sessions immediately before and during a 6-h postprandial period.

Results: Carbohydrate oxidation rates rose much faster after the high-sucrose meals than after the high-starch meal. Breath (13)CO(2) enrichment rose faster and peaked earlier and at a higher value when [13C]fructose rather than [13C]glucose was given with the high-sucrose test meal. Values for breath (13)CO(2) enrichment from [13C]glucose after the high-starch meal were intermediate.

Conclusions: These results show that fructose is preferentially oxidized compared with glucose after a high-sucrose meal and that glucose is oxidized more slowly after a high-sucrose meal than after a high-starch meal.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Breath Tests
  • Carbon Dioxide / analysis
  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage*
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / metabolism
  • Dietary Sucrose / administration & dosage*
  • Dietary Sucrose / metabolism*
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Fructose / administration & dosage
  • Fructose / metabolism
  • Glucose / administration & dosage
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Starch / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Dietary Sucrose
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Fructose
  • Starch
  • Glucose