d-Allulose enhances postprandial fat oxidation in healthy humans

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Vol. 43-44; pp. 16 - 20
• Main Authors: Kimura, Tomonori, Kanasaki, Akane, Hayashi, Noriko, Yamada, Takako, Iida, Tetsuo, Nagata, Yasuo, Okuma, Kazuhiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2017; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adipose tissue; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Adult; Aspartame; Aspartame - administration & dosage; Beverages; Blood Glucose - analysis; Body Mass Index; Body size; Body weight; Body Weight - drug effects; Carbohydrates; Cardiovascular disease; Chemical industry; Cholesterol; Cross-Over Studies; d-allulose; d-psicose; Diabetes; Dietary Carbohydrates - metabolism; Dietary Fats - metabolism; Energy expenditure; Energy metabolism; Energy Metabolism - drug effects; Experiments; Fat oxidation; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified - blood; FDA approval; Female; Food; Fructose; Fructose - administration & dosage; Glucose; Humans; Ingestion; Insulin; Insulin - blood; Lipids; Male; Metabolism; Metabolites; Obesity; Oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; Parameter modification; Parameters; Plasma; Postprandial Period; Proteins; Rare sugar; Rodents; Single-Blind Method; Sugar; Sweetening Agents; Triglycerides; Values; Japan; Energy expenditure; Fat oxidation; Obesity; d-allulose; d-psicose; Rare sugar
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2017.06.007
• ISSN: 0899-9007

d-Allulose, a C-3 epimer of d-fructose, has been reported to decrease body weight and adipose tissue weight in animal studies and is expected to be a potent antiobese sweetener. Our animal study suggested that one of the mechanisms of d-allulose's antiobesity function is an increase in energy expenditure. However, a few studies have thus far explored the underlying mechanism in humans. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a single ingestion of d-allulose on postprandial energy metabolism in healthy participants. Thirteen healthy men and women (mean age of 35.7 ± 2.1 y and body mass index 20.9 ± 0.7 kg/m2) were studied. The study was a randomized, single-blind crossover design with a 1-wk washout period. At 30 min after taking 5 g of d-allulose or 10 mg of aspartame without any sugar as a control, overnight-fasted participants ingested a standardized meal, and energy metabolism was evaluated by a breath-by-breath method. During the experiment, blood was collected and biochemical parameters such as plasma glucose were analyzed. In the d-allulose–treated group, the area under the curve of fat oxidation was significantly higher than in the control group (10.5 ± 0.4 versus 9.6 ± 0.3 kJ·4 h·kg−1 body weight [BW]; P < 0.05), whereas that of carbohydrate oxidation was significantly lower (8.1 ± 0.5 versus 9.2 ± 0.5 kJ·4 h·kg−1 BW; P < 0.05). Furthermore, plasma glucose levels were significantly lower, and free fatty acid levels were significantly higher in the d-allulose group than in the control group. No other parameters such as insulin, total cholesterol, or triacylglycerol were modified. d-Allulose enhances postprandial fat oxidation in healthy humans, indicating that it could be a novel sweetener to control and maintain healthy body weight, probably through enhanced energy metabolism. •d-Allulose, a C-3 epimer of d-fructose, decreases body weight and abdominal adipose tissue weight in animals probably through enhanced energy expenditure.•We examined the effects of a single ingestion of d-allulose on postprandial energy metabolism in healthy humans.•d-Allulose enhanced postprandial fat oxidation and decreased carbohydrate oxidation.•To our knowledge, this is the first report showing that d-allulose enhances energy metabolism in healthy humans at a low dose of 5 g.•d-Allulose could be a novel sweetener to control and maintain healthy body weight.