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Postprandial glucose and insulin responses to glucose polymers by premature infants
N T Tucker1, C Hodge, T S Choi
1Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York, Buffalo.
Insights
Neonatal infants can digest and absorb glucose polymers (GP), with DE 24 showing a response similar to glucose. These findings suggest glucose polymers are suitable for infant nutrition.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition
- Pediatric gastroenterology
- Carbohydrate metabolism
Background:
- Previous research questioned the digestibility and absorption of glucose polymers (GP) in neonatal infants.
- Understanding carbohydrate utilization is crucial for optimizing infant feeding strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the postprandial glucose and insulin responses to different glucose polymers (GP) in neonatal infants.
- To determine the suitability of glucose polymers for neonatal nutrition based on their metabolic impact.
Main Methods:
- A study involving thirteen infants (33-42 weeks corrected gestational age) was conducted.
- Infants were fed glucose, glucose polymer DE 15, and glucose polymer DE 24.
- Postprandial serum glucose and insulin levels were measured at 60 minutes post-feeding.
Main Results:
- Serum glucose responses at 60 minutes were 138.1 mg/100 ml for glucose, 111.6 mg/100 ml for GP DE 15, and 120 mg/100 ml for GP DE 24.
- Significant differences in mean serum glucose and insulin levels were observed between glucose and glucose polymers.
- Glucose polymer DE 24 elicited a hormonal response closer to that of pure glucose.
Conclusions:
- Glucose polymers are hydrolyzed, absorbed, and elicit appropriate glucose and insulin responses in neonatal infants.
- Glucose polymer DE 24 demonstrates a metabolic profile suitable for neonatal feeding.
- These findings support the use of specific glucose polymers in the nutritional management of neonatal infants.
Abstract:
Previous studies have questioned whether neonatal infants can digest and absorb glucose polymers (GP). Thirteen infants of 33-42 weeks of corrected gestational age were fed two glucose polymers with different dextrose equivalents (DE) and glucose. Postprandial glucose and insulin responses were measured consecutively after each feeding. At 60 min, glucose, glucose polymer DE 15 and glucose polymer DE 24 produced serum glucose responses of 138.1, 111.6 and 120 mg/100 ml, respectively. Differences in mean serum glucose and insulin levels were found when glucose or glucose polymers were used as the test carbohydrate. Glucose polymer DE 24 produced a hormonal response closer to that of glucose. This suggests that glucose polymers were hydrolyzed and absorbed and evoked a sufficient glucose and insulin response. Therefore, these glucose polymers would seem to be suitable for use in feeding neonatal infants.