Characteristic hydrolyzing of megalosaccharide by human salivary α-amylase and small intestinal enzymes, and its bioavailability in healthy subjects

Abstract

The digestibility of Megalosaccharide® (newly developed carbohydrate comprising α-1,4-glucosaccharide) was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Isomaltosyl-megalosaccharide® (IMS) and nigerosyl-megalosaccharide® (NMS) contain 20% and 50% of the megalosaccharide fraction (degree of polymerization (DP) 10–35), respectively. IMS was hydrolyzed readily by α-amylase to oligosaccharides (DP ≤ 7), and a small amount of glucose was produced from oligosaccharides by small intestinal enzymes (SIEs). NMS was partially hydrolyzed by α-amylase to oligosaccharides, and a small amount of glucose produced by SIEs. When IMS and NMS were treated by SIEs after treatment with human saliva α-amylase for a few minutes, IMS and NMS were hydrolyzed readily to glucose. Plasma levels of glucose and insulin upon ingestion of 50 g of IMS or NMS were elevated the same as those for 50 g of glucose, and breath hydrogen was not excreted. These results suggest that IMS and NMS are digestible carbohydrates.

• Bioavailability
• characteristic hydrolyzing
• megalosaccharide
• salivary α-amylase
• small intestinal enzymes

Acknowledgements

We thank Nihon Shokuhin-Kako (Tokyo, Japan) for graciously providing IMS, NMS and soluble starch, and Meiji Seika Kaisha (Tokyo, Japan) for providing FOS.

Author contributions

T.O. designed the study and had the primary responsibility for final content. T.O., M.T., K.T., and S.N. conducted the research, analyzed the data, and undertook statistical analyses. All authors approved the final manuscript.