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The effect of different protein hydrolysate/carbohydrate mixtures on postprandial glucagon and insulin responses in healthy subjects

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 63, pages 48–56 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives:

To study the effect of four protein hydrolysates from vegetable (pea, gluten, rice and soy) and two protein hydrolysates from animal origin (whey and egg) on glucagon and insulin responses.

Subjects/Methods:

Eight healthy normal-weight male subjects participated in this study. The study employed a repeated-measures design with Latin square randomization and single-blind trials. Protein hydrolysates used in this study (pea, rice, soy, gluten, whey and egg protein hydrolysate) consisted of 0.2 g hydrolysate per kg body weight (bw) and 0.2 g maltodextrin per kg bw and were compared to maltodextrin alone. Postprandial plasma glucose, glucagon, insulin and amino acids were determined over 2 h.

Results:

All protein hydrolysates induced an enhanced insulin secretion compared to maltodextrin alone and a correspondingly low plasma glucose response. A significant difference was observed in area under the curve (AUC) for plasma glucagon between protein hydrolysates and the maltodextrin control drink (P<0.05). Gluten protein hydrolysate induced the lowest glucagon response.

Conclusions:

High amino-acid-induced glucagon response does not necessarily go together with low insulin response. Protein hydrolysate source affects AUC for glucagon more profoundly than for insulin, although the protein load used in this study seemed to be at lower level for significant physiological effects.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the laboratory of Mick Deutz for performing the plasma amino acid measurements. This work was supported by Kerry Bio-Science, Almere, The Netherlands.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    M Claessens, M A van Baak & W H M Saris

  2. Kerry Bio-Science, Almere, The Netherlands

    W Calame & A D Siemensma

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  1. M Claessens
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  2. W Calame
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  3. A D Siemensma
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  4. M A van Baak
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  5. W H M Saris
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Correspondence to M Claessens.

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Claessens, M., Calame, W., Siemensma, A. et al. The effect of different protein hydrolysate/carbohydrate mixtures on postprandial glucagon and insulin responses in healthy subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 48–56 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602896

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