Utilization of intravenous maltose

Area of Science:

• Metabolism and Nutrition
• Renal Physiology
• Carbohydrate Chemistry

Background:

• Maltose is a disaccharide commonly used as a carbohydrate source.
• Understanding the metabolic fate and renal handling of exogenous maltose is crucial for nutritional and clinical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the pharmacokinetic and renal excretion profile of maltose following intravenous infusion in healthy human subjects.
• To assess the impact of maltose infusion on glucose metabolism and insulin response.

Main Methods:

• Intravenous infusion of 10% maltose solution at 0.5 g/kg/h for 345 minutes in ten healthy male subjects.
• Monitoring of blood maltose levels, urinary maltose (maltosuria), and urinary glucose (glucosuria).
• Measurement of serum insulin levels throughout the infusion period.

Main Results:

• Blood maltose levels increased continuously, reaching a plateau after 285 minutes.
• Significant maltosuria was observed, with an average renal excretion of 30.4% of the administered maltose dose.
• Concomitant glucosuria occurred, accounting for up to 16% of total carbohydrate excretion, despite normal blood glucose levels.
• Serum insulin levels demonstrated a rise during the maltose infusion period.

Conclusions:

• Intravenous maltose administration leads to substantial renal excretion of maltose in healthy individuals.
• Maltose infusion can induce glucosuria, even with normal blood glucose levels, suggesting a potential impact on renal glucose transport thresholds.
• The observed increase in serum insulin indicates a physiological response to maltose administration, possibly involving insulin secretion pathways.