Postprandial glucose and insulin responses to glucose polymers by premature infants.

Previous studies have questioned whether neonatal infants can digest and absorb glucose polymers (GP). Thirteen infants of 33-42 weeks of corrected gestational age were fed two glucose polymers with different dextrose equivalents (DE) and glucose. Postprandial glucose and insulin responses were measured consecutively after each feeding. At 60 min, glucose, glucose polymer DE 15 and glucose polymer DE 24 produced serum glucose responses of 138.1, 111.6 and 120 mg/100 ml, respectively. Differences in mean serum glucose and insulin levels were found when glucose or glucose polymers were used as the test carbohydrate. Glucose polymer DE 24 produced a hormonal response closer to that of glucose. This suggests that glucose polymers were hydrolyzed and absorbed and evoked a sufficient glucose and insulin response. Therefore, these glucose polymers would seem to be suitable for use in feeding neonatal infants.