Perspectives on evaluating health effects of starch: Beyond postprandial glycemic response

Haocun Kong; Luxi Yu; Caiming Li; Xiaofeng Ban; Zhengbiao Gu; Long Liu; Zhaofeng Li

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119621

Perspectives on evaluating health effects of starch: Beyond postprandial glycemic response

Carbohydr Polym. 2022 Sep 15:292:119621. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119621. Epub 2022 May 16.

Authors

Haocun Kong¹, Luxi Yu², Caiming Li³, Xiaofeng Ban³, Zhengbiao Gu³, Long Liu⁴, Zhaofeng Li⁵

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
² School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
⁴ Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China. Electronic address: longliu@jiangnan.edu.cn.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China. Electronic address: zfli@jiangnan.edu.cn.

PMID: 35725153
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119621

Abstract

Starch is an important dietary carbohydrate in the human diet and is greatly associated with human health. The health effects of starch are classically evaluated by postprandial glycemic response. However, glycemic response is the test result of blood glucose level and sometimes fails to perfectly describe the health effects exerted by starch. Therefore, other factors, besides glycemic response, merit consideration. Herein, we endeavor to provide some insights into the description of health effects exerted by starch. For this purpose, we summarize advances in recent studies to support the crucial roles of glucose kinetics, insulin response, and gut hormones release. A moderate postprandial insulin response and an enhanced release of several specific gut hormones are critical characteristics of a healthier starch, such as those slowly digested till the distal ileum. It is also hoped that further studies can develop feasible methods to produce tailor-made starches with individualized health effects.

Keywords: Digestion property; Glucose kinetics; Gut hormones; Health effects; Insulin response.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Blood Glucose*
Dietary Carbohydrates / pharmacology
Digestion
Glycemic Index
Humans
Insulin
Postprandial Period
Starch* / pharmacology

Substances

Blood Glucose
Dietary Carbohydrates
Insulin
Starch