An Innovative Short-Clustered Maltodextrin as Starch Substitute for Ameliorating Postprandial Glucose Homeostasis

Dietary starch is usually associated with elevated postprandial glycemic response. This is a potential risk factor of type 2 diabetes. Here, a 1,4-alpha-glucan branching enzyme (GBE) was employed to reassemble alpha-1,4 and alpha-1,6 glycosidic bonds in starch molecules. Structural characterization showed that GBE-catalyzed molecular reassembly created an innovative short-clustered maltodextrin (SCMD), which showed a dense internal framework along with shortened external chains. Such short-clustered molecules obstructed digestive enzymes attack and displayed dramatically reduced digestibility. Therefore, SCMD was served as a dietary starch substitute to improve postprandial glucose homeostasis. A 22.3% decrease in glycemic peak was therefore detected in ICR mice following SCMD intake (10.7 mmol/L), compared with that in the control (13.8 mmol/L). Moreover, an attenuated insulin response (40.5% lower than that in control) to SCMD intake was regarded suitable for diabetes management. These novel discoveries demonstrate that enzymatically rebuilding starch molecules may be a meaningful strategy for diabetes management.

Automated summary

The study showed that using a 1,4-alpha-glucan branching enzyme (GBE) to reassemble starch molecules created a novel short-clustered maltodextrin (SCMD) with dense internal framework and shortened external chains, leading to reduced digestibility and improved postprandial glucose homeostasis. Intake of SCMD resulted in a 22.3% decrease in glycemic peak and a 40.5% lower insulin response in mice, suggesting its potential as a meaningful strategy for diabetes management.