Allulose, 1-kestose, and resistant maltodextrin differentially modulate postprandial glucose, GLP-1, and satiety in humans

Effective postprandial glycemic regulation is crucial for preventing chronic metabolic conditions like Type 2 Diabetes. While pharmacological interventions, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, offer robust control, they often come with side effects or require injections. Dietary strategies utilizing low-digestible carbohydrates (LDCs) present a promising, sustainable, and complementary approach to manage glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. This research explores how specific LDCs can uniquely influence incretin hormone release and satiety signals, addressing a gap in understanding their distinct physiological impacts.

Two human physiological investigations evaluated the acute metabolic responses to specific LDCs. Study 1 assessed allulose, 1-kestose, resistant maltodextrin (RD), and fructo-oligosaccharide powder (FOP) when consumed in isolation. Study 2 examined these LDCs in conjunction with a reference meal (RM). Primary endpoints included plasma glucose, insulin, and GLP-1 concentrations, alongside subjective satiety ratings. Participants consumed specific doses of each LDC, with metabolic responses tracked over several hours post-ingestion to determine iAUC (incremental area under the curve) for various biomarkers.

In Study 1, all tested LDCs elicited minimal plasma glucose responses when consumed alone, confirming their low glycemic impact. Study 2 revealed distinct metabolic benefits when LDCs were co-ingested with a meal. Allulose demonstrated the strongest effects, significantly reducing postprandial glucose and insulin levels while notably increasing plasma GLP-1 concentrations. This suggests a potential role for allulose in enhancing incretin-mediated glucose control. 1-Kestose also exhibited significantly lower plasma glucose and insulin iAUC compared to the reference meal alone, indicating improved glycemic regulation without a significant GLP-1 boost. Resistant maltodextrin (RD) primarily impacted satiety.

RD significantly enhanced subjective satiety between 30 and 180 min post-consumption, suggesting its utility in appetite control. These findings underscore that each LDC possesses unique physiological mechanisms, differentially influencing glucose, insulin, GLP-1, and satiety.