Small-intestinal digestion of partially resistant cornstarch in healthy subjects

The aims of this study were to measure the amount of starch from partially resistant starches (retrograded and complexed high-amylose cornstarches) escaping small-intestinal digestion in healthy humans by use of an intubation method and to compare these data with data obtained by indirect in vitro methods. Experiments were carried out in vivo in 6 healthy humans by using ileal intubation and stool analysis and in vitro by using 3 different methods for analyzing resistant starch. In intubated subjects, 51 +/- 2% of the retrograded and 21 +/- 2% of the complexed starch was delivered to the ileum and was fermented almost completely in the colon. In vitro estimates of the absorption of resistant starch were much lower. We conclude that technologically modified starches may substantially increase the amount of carbohydrate available for colonic fermentation in humans, but that in vitro measurements of resistant starch are inaccurate for predicting malabsorption in healthy humans.