The effects of palatinose on attention and cerebral blood flow in healthy adults: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study

Natsumi Yamamoto; Miki Sakazaki; Yukie Nagai; Masanori Shoji; Ryuta Kawashima

doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148553

The effects of palatinose on attention and cerebral blood flow in healthy adults: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study

Brain Res. 2023 Dec 1:1820:148553. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148553. Epub 2023 Aug 25.

Authors

Natsumi Yamamoto¹, Miki Sakazaki², Yukie Nagai², Masanori Shoji³, Ryuta Kawashima⁴

Affiliations

¹ Mitsui DM Sugar Co., Ltd., 2-28-7, Kamiochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-0034, Japan. Electronic address: natsumi.yamamoto@msdm-hd.com.
² Mitsui DM Sugar Co., Ltd., 2-28-7, Kamiochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-0034, Japan.
³ NeU Corporation, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0048, Japan.
⁴ NeU Corporation, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0048, Japan; Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC), Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-0872, Japan.

PMID: 37633356
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148553

Abstract

Objective: The primary energy source for the brain is glucose, and a continuous supply is required for the brain to work longer. This study aimed to verify the effects of palatinose on attention and cerebral blood flow in healthy adults.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study included 64 healthy Japanese adults. Participants performed the Digit Vigilance Task (DVT) 60 min pre-ingestion (14:00) and 0 (15:00), 60 (16:00), 120 (17:00), and 180 (18:00) min after ingestion of 10 g of either palatinose or glucose. Cerebral blood flow was measured using a wearable 2CH functional near-infrared spectrometer (fNIRS) during each DVT. The participants underwent the Uchida-Kraepelin (UK) test between each DVT to control for fatigue.

Results: DVT reaction times with palatinose intake were significantly shorter than those with glucose intake at 16:00, 17:00, and 18:00 (p = 0.0015, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). The change in cerebral blood flow as a function of total hemoglobin level was significantly higher in the palatinose group than in the glucose group (p = 0.018). Regarding the post-UK mood questionnaire, "physically fatigued" and "annoyed" were significantly lower in the palatinose intake group compared to the glucose intake group at 17:00 (p = 0.0445 and p = 0.0318, respectively). Furthermore, "physically fatigued" was significantly lower, and "seriously" was higher in the palatinose intake compared to the glucose intake group at 18:00 (p = 0.00652 and p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that 10 g of palatinose has favorable effects on attention and cerebral blood flow.

Trial registration: UMIN000046182.

Keywords: Attention; Cerebral blood flow; Digit vigilance task; Functional near-infrared spectroscopy; Palatinose.