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High endogenous salivary amylase activity is associated with improved glycemic homeostasis following starch ingestion in adults.

Abstract

In the current study, we determined whether increased digestion of starch by high salivary amylase concentrations predicted postprandial blood glucose following starch ingestion. Healthy, nonobese individuals were prescreened for salivary amylase activity and classified as high (HA) or low amylase (LA) if their activity levels per minute fell 1 SD higher or lower than the group mean, respectively. Fasting HA (n = 7) and LA (n = 7) individuals participated in 2 sessions during which they ingested either a starch (experimental) or glucose solution (control) on separate days. Blood samples were collected before, during, and after the participants drank each solution. The samples were analyzed for plasma glucose and insulin concentrations as well as diploid AMY1 gene copy number. HA individuals had significantly more AMY1 gene copies within their genomes than did the LA individuals. We found that following starch ingestion, HA individuals had significantly lower postprandial blood glucose concentrations at 45, 60, and 75 min, as well as significantly lower AUC and peak blood glucose concentrations than the LA individuals. Plasma insulin concentrations in the HA group were significantly higher than baseline early in the testing session, whereas insulin concentrations in the LA group did not increase at this time. Following ingestion of the glucose solution, however, blood glucose and insulin concentrations did not differ between the groups. These observations are interpreted to suggest that HA individuals may be better adapted to ingest starches, whereas LA individuals may be at greater risk for insulin resistance and diabetes if chronically ingesting starch-rich diets.

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    • Authors

    Mandel AL, Breslin PA

    Institution

    Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

    Source

    The Journal of nutrition 142:5 2012 May pg 853-8

    MeSH

    Adaptation, Physiological
    Adult
    Blood Glucose
    Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
    Dietary Carbohydrates
    Female
    Glycemic Index
    Homeostasis
    Humans
    Hyperglycemia
    Insulin
    Insulin Resistance
    Male
    Risk Factors
    Saliva
    Salivary alpha-Amylases
    Starch

    Pub Type(s)

    Journal Article
    Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

    Language

    eng

    PubMed ID

    22492122