Starch blockers--their effect on calorie absorption from a high-starch meal

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Human Physiology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Certain plant foods contain antiamylase substances that inhibit salivary and pancreatic amylase.
• These antiamylase compounds are purified and sold as "starch blockers" for weight management.
• The efficacy of starch blockers in reducing caloric absorption from starch remains unproven.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if starch-blocker tablets effectively reduce the absorption of calories from starch in humans.
• To investigate the impact of starch blockers on starch digestion and subsequent calorie absorption.

Main Methods:

• A one-day calorie-balance technique was employed.
• Normal subjects consumed a high-starch meal (100 g) including spaghetti, tomato sauce, and bread.
• Fecal calorie excretion was measured after subjects ingested either starch-blocker tablets or a placebo.

Main Results:

• Fecal calorie excretion was comparable between the days subjects took starch blockers and placebo tablets.
• The mean fecal calorie excretion was 80 +/- 4 kcal for starch blockers versus 78 +/- 2 kcal for placebo.
• There was no significant increase in fecal calorie excretion, indicating no prevention of starch digestion.

Conclusions:

• Starch-blocker tablets do not inhibit the digestion of starch in human beings.
• The absorption of calories from starch is not reduced by the use of starch-blocker tablets.
• The popular weight-control approach using starch blockers lacks scientific evidence of efficacy in reducing starch calorie absorption.