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Absorption and oxidation of glucose polymers of different lengths in young infants
Insights
Young infants absorb shorter glucose polymers (GP) more effectively than longer ones. Longer chain glucose polymers may lead to increased carbohydrate malabsorption in infants, indicating a need for careful dietary considerations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Gastroenterology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Mucosal glucoamylase activity is limited with longer glucose polymers (GP).
- Incomplete absorption of long-chain GP in young infants is a potential concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the absorption and oxidation of glucose, short-chain GP, and long-chain GP in 1-month-old infants.
- To investigate the extent of carbohydrate malabsorption associated with different glucose polymer chain lengths.
Main Methods:
- 13C-labeled glucose, short-chain GP (3-8 units), and long-chain GP (average 43 units) were administered to 12 healthy infants.
- Stool 13C enrichment measured GP and glucose recovery.
- Breath 13CO2 traced GP oxidation.
- Breath H2 assessed carbohydrate malabsorption.
Main Results:
- Excretion of long-chain GP in stool was higher (mean 8.4%) compared to glucose (9.7%) and short-chain GP (6.7%).
- Breath 13CO2 recovery was similar across all substrates.
- Increased breath H2, indicating malabsorption, was observed more frequently after long-chain GP feeding (6/12 infants).
Conclusions:
- Healthy young infants exhibit less complete absorption of long-chain glucose polymers compared to short-chain ones.
- Dietary strategies for infants may need to consider the chain length of glucose polymers for optimal absorption.
Abstract:
Because mucosal glucoamylase is most active against glucose polymers less than 10 glucose units in length, longer chain polymers may not be completely absorbed by young infants. In order to investigate this possibility, the absorption and oxidation of 13C-rich glucose, short-chain (3 to 8 glucose units in length) and long-chain (average length 43 units) glucose polymers (GP) were compared in 12 healthy, 1-month-old infants. Recovery of the GP and glucose in stool was measured by determining the 13C enrichment of stool. The oxidation of the GP was measured by tracing the increase in breath 13CO2 after GP were fed. Carbohydrate malabsorbed in the small bowel was assessed by measurement of breath H2, a gas formed from the fermentation of carbohydrate in the colon. Analysis of the infants' stools revealed that one infant excreted 9.7% of the dose of glucose, another 6.7% of the dose of short-chain GP, and five infants excreted 2.6 to 18.5% (mean 8.4%) of the dose of long-chain GP. The percent of the administered dose recovered in breath was similar among substrates (mean = 28.7% of the dose fed). A rise in breath H2 greater than 20 ppm was found in four of the 12 infants after the feeding of glucose, in five of 12 after the short-chain GP, and in six of 12 after the long-chain GP. None of the infants developed diarrhea. The results suggest that healthy young infants do not absorb long-chain GP as completely as they absorb short-chain GP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)