BENEO’s Palatinose Is the Better Sugar for People with Diabetes, Research Confirms

The study results provide new scientific evidence that the favorable metabolic profile of BENEO’s Palatinose (isomaltulose) results from the opposite effect it has, compared to sucrose on the incretin hormones GIP (Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide) and GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide-1).

 

The benefits of Palatinose, observed in direct comparison with sucrose in this study, suggest that the hormone (incretin) response plays a key role for the effects in metabolism and health.

 

The human intervention study used a randomized, double-blind cross-over design with 10 Type 2 diabetics who consumed 50g Palatinose or sucrose dissolved in water after overnight fast.

 

The results show that Palatinose reduces insulin secretion and lowers blood glucose fluctuations in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: With Palatinose, the blood glucose response was lower (with approximately 20% lower peak concentrations), the insulin release was 55% lower, the GIP release was very low and delayed (overall 40% less vs sucrose) and the GLP-1 secretion was higher and sustained (overall 6.3-fold higher vs sucrose).

 

Pfeiffer and his team have also demonstrated long-term benefits of the different incretin hormone response of Palatinos in blood sugar management and diabetes prevention within an earlier long-term feeding study with mice.

 

Anke Sentko, Vice President Regulatory Affairs and Nutrition Communication at BENEO commented: “We are very pleased with these independent study results. It shows the strong potential for Palatinose in blood sugar management and diabetes prevention. With the number of people suffering diabetes mellitus set to rise even further, the findings of this study are of great relevance to a large proportion of the population. Though our understanding of the full potential of the different hormone (incretin) response of Palatinose in supporting health and preventing disease is still in the early stages, this new research again underlines the fact that ‘not all sugars are alike’!”

 

BENEO’s Palatinose is a fully digestible disaccharide-type carbohydrate composed of glucose and fructose. Due to its unique molecular linkage, it is a slow release carbohydrate and is derived from beet sugar. It is fully yet slowly digested and absorbed, providing balanced and sustained energy, with a lower blood glucose rise and less insulin release.

 

Palatinose is commonly used in the following applications:
– Sports nutrition like bars, power chews and sports beverages
– Cereals and cereals bars
– Products for infants, but also for ‘maternal diets’ – where the low glycemic effect is perceived as very positive,
– As well as the area of clinical nutrition and meal replacement, as there is a trend for meal replacement products with people increasingly sitting for many hours in front of their PCs/screens, almost forgetting to eat and drink.

 

Palatinose creates an improved metabolic profile with more stable blood glucose levels and a higher contribution of fat utilization in energy metabolism. It can be used as a sugar alternative, replacing sucrose or other high glycemic carbohydrates on a gram-to-gram basis. 

 

“With blood sugar management being increasingly known and accepted as one factor contributing to health, the food industry is becoming more interested in this benefit,” Claudia Meissner, Head of Corporate Communication BENEO told NutritionInsight.

 

“With the scientific substantiation and the claims we have, Palatinose is an ingredient that is requested for many product development projects. Complimentary to this is the natural and mild, sweet taste that Palatinose brings to products.”

 

This independent study was published in the March 2016 issue of Diabetes Care and BENEO was not involved in any way, other than providing the test carbohydrate.