In vitro digestion of starches in a dynamic gastrointestinal model: an innovative study to optimize dietary management of patients with hepatic glycogen storage diseases

J Inherit Metab Dis. 2015 May;38(3):529-36. doi: 10.1007/s10545-014-9763-y. Epub 2014 Sep 16.

Abstract

Uncooked cornstarch (UCCS) is a widely used treatment strategy for patients with hepatic glycogen storage disease (GSD). It has been observed that GSD-patients display different metabolic responses to different cornstarches. The objective was to characterize starch fractions and analyze the digestion of different starches in a dynamic gastrointestinal in vitro model. The following brands of UCCS were studied: Argo and Great Value from the United States of America; Brazilian Maizena Duryea and Yoki from Brazil; Dutch Maizena Duryea from the Netherlands. Glycosade, a modified starch, and sweet polvilho, a Brazilian starch extracted from cassava, were also studied. The starch fractions were analyzed by glycemic TNO index method and digestion analyses were determined by the TIM-1 system, a dynamic, computer-controlled, in vitro gastrointestinal model, which simulates the stomach and small intestine. The final digested amounts were between 84 and 86% for the UCCS and Glycosade, but was 75.5% for sweet povilho. At 180 min of the experiment, an important time-point for GSD patients, the digested amount of the starches corresponded to 67.9-71.5 for the UCCS and Glycosade, while it was 55.5% for sweet povilho. In an experiment with a mixture of sweet polvilho and Brazilian Maizena Duryea, a final digested amount of 78.4% was found, while the value at 180 min was 61.7%. Sweet polvilho seems to have a slower and extended release of glucose and looks like an interesting product to be further studied as it might lead to extended normoglycemia in GSD-patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Digestion / physiology*
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Glycogen Storage Disease Type I / diet therapy*
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Starch / analysis*
  • Starch / classification*
  • Starch / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Starch
  • Glucose