Fructans of Jerusalem artichokes: intestinal transport, absorption, fermentation, and influence on blood glucose, insulin, and C-peptide responses in healthy subjects

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 52; no. 4; pp. 675 - 681
• Main Authors: Rumessen, JJ, Bodé, S, Hamberg, O, Gudmand-Høyer, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01.10.1990; American Society for Clinical Nutrition
• Subjects: Absorption; Adult; ALMIDON; AMIDON; analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Transport; Biological Transport - drug effects; blood; blood glucose; Blood Glucose - analysis; c-peptide; C-Peptide - blood; CARBOHIDRATOS; Carbohydrates; DIETA; dietary carbohydrate; dietary fiber; DIGESTION; drug effects; Female; FEMME; Fermentation; FIBRA BRUTA; FIBRE BRUTE; fructans; Fructans - analysis; Fructans - pharmacology; FRUCTOSA; FRUCTOSE; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastrointestinal Transit; GLICEMIA; GLUCIDE; GLYCEMIE; Helianthus; Helianthus - analysis; HOMBRES; HOMME; Humans; Hydrogen; Hydrogen - metabolism; Insulin; Insulin - blood; INSULINA; INSULINE; Intestines; Intestines - metabolism; Jerusalem artichokes; malabsorption; Male; men; metabolism; Metabolisms and neurohumoral controls; MUJERES; PATACA; PEPTIDE; PEPTIDOS; pharmacology; POLISACARIDOS; POLYHOLOSIDE; Polysaccharides; Polysaccharides - pharmacology; REGIME ALIMENTAIRE; Starch; Starch - pharmacology; Time Factors; TOPINAMBOUR; TRASTORNOS DIGESTIVOS; Triticum; TROUBLE DIGESTIF; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; women; Human; Pancreatic hormone; Biological transport; Aminoacid derivative hormone; Gut; Glucose; Fermentation; Metabolism; Insulin; C-Peptide; Fructose; Absorption; Artichoke; Carbohydrate; Hormonal investigation
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/52.4.675

Fructans are naturally occurring plant oligosaccharides with sweetening properties. Fructans (FAs) isolated from Jerusalem artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus) were studied with respect to intestinal handling and influence on blood glucose (BG), insulin, and C-peptide responses in eight healthy subjects. The responses were compared with those for fructose ingestion. The effect of FAs added to a wheat-starch meal was also studied. Standardized breath-hydrogen excretion indicated that FAs were completely malabsorbed and, after a 20-g dose, traces of FA were detected in 24-h urine collections in one subject only. Orocecal transit times were longer for FAs than for lactulose and fructose. The BG and insulin increments were very low after FA ingestion, lower than after fructose ingestion, whereas hydrogen production was much higher. Areas under BG curves tended to be smaller when 10 g FA was added to a 50-g wheat-starch meal, but there was no apparent interference with starch absorption.