Effects on parameters of glucose homeostasis in healthy humans from ingestion of leguminous versus maize starches.

BACKGROUND: Due to their lower glycaemic index, leguminous seeds affect human carbohydrate metabolism lesser than do cereals. Problems, however, could arise from side effects, e.g., increasing flatulence. AIM OF THE STUDY AND METHODS: In 26 healthy subjects, metabolic and symptomatic responses following acute ingestion of equivalent amounts of pure pea starch (NASTAR (Cosucra BV, Rosendaal/The Netherlands), crude yellow pea flour (CPC Deutschland, Germany), and modified and unmodified cornstarches (SNOWFLAKE and SIRONA, Cerestar/Germany) were assessed, i.e., plasma glucose, serum insulin, C-peptide, hydrogen exhalation, and flatulence. RESULTS: Pure pea starch elicited less hyperglycaemia (minus 47 %), hyperinsulinaemia (minus 54 %), and C-peptide secretion (minus 37 %) as compared to cornstarch (p<0.05), while the responses to modified versus unmodified corn starch were similar (8 subjects, n.s.). Pure pea and corn starches were equally well tolerated, while flatulence and breath hydrogen concentration were increased only after the intake of crude pea flour. Maldigestion of pea flour was calculated to be around 10 % (reference lactulose). CONCLUSIONS: The well-known metabolic advantages of pea starch over cornstarch were confirmed. Tolerability of pure pea starch was excellent, but not of crude pea flour. Provided it has the same technical characteristics, pure pea starch as a "prebiotic" could replace cornstarch in industrial food production.

The triglyceride fatty acid pattern in arterial wall, adipose tissue and serum of amputated diabetic subjects.

The triglyceride fatty acid pattern [TFAP] in arterial wall, adipose tissue and serum has been estimated in diabetic subjects by gas-liquid chromatography simultaneously. The samples were taken shortly before or during femoral amputation performed under halothane anaesthesia. In addition, in some probands the fatty acids of cholesterol esters of vascular walls have been obtained. The following differences in the TFAP of the tissues under study were discovered. In arterial wall compared to serum, lauric, myristic, myristoleic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic and linolenic acid were increased; palmitic and linoleic acid were decreased, whereas eicosatrienoic, arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acid were at the same level. In arterial wall compared to adipose tissue, myristic, palmitic and nervonic acid were decreased; eicosatrienoic, arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acid were increased. Most differences concern the TFAP of adipose tissue compared to serum: lauric, myristic, myristoleic, palmitoleic, oleic, linolenic, lignoceric and nervonic acid were elevated in the former; palmitic, linoleic, eicosatrienoic, arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acid were increased in the latter. In consideration of different content of fatty acids in the tissues studied the authors conclude that certain fatty acids have distinct metabolic positions such as depot fatty acids and precursors of prostaglandins.

The fatty acid pattern of triglycerides in liver, adipose tissue and serum of diabetics with hyperlipoproteinemia before and during clofibrate treatment.

In 20 diabetic inpatients with type IIb, III, IV and V hyperlipoproteinemia (HPL) the triglyceride fatty acid pattern (TFAP) of serum, adipose tissue and liver biopsy specimens before and after one year of clofibrate treatment has been determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Compared to previous results which revealed a correlation between fat droplet size and the TFAP in liver parenchyma cells, remarkable changes were observed after long-term therapy. In adipose tissue, only linoleic acid increased significantly from 8.6 to 11.3%. In serum, myristic and palmitic acid decreased, whereas linoleic, eicosatetraenoic (arachidonic) and eicosapentaenoic acid rose significantly. In liver fat, palmitic acid decreased, whereas linoleic, eicosatrienoic, arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acid significantly increased. After clofibrate therapy, the TFAP in diabetic subjects with HLP became similar to that of diabetics without HLP. The most pronounced changes were found in the liver, serum having an intermediate position between liver and adipose tissue. The pathophysiological relevance in view of possible relations to prostaglandins has been discussed.

The fatty acid composition of triglycerides in arteries, depot fat and serum of amputated diabetics.

The triglyceride fatty acid pattern (TFAP) in arterial wall, adipose tissue and serum in vivo has been estimated in amputated diabetic subjects by gas-liquid chromatography simultaneously. Besides, in some probands the fatty acid pattern of cholesterol esters of vessel walls has been obtained. In arterial wall the percental content of lauric, myristic, myristoleic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic and linolenic acid was high and that of palmitic and linoleic acid was low, when compared to serum, whereas eicosatrienoic, arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acid were of similar magnitude. In comparison to adipose tissue myristic, palmitic and nervonic acid were decreased and eicosatrienoic, arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acid were increased in arterial wall. In view of the results the speculation is obvious that certain fatty acids have distinct metabolic positions in several tissues, such as depot fatty acids and precursors of prostaglandins, for example.