M. Axelsen et al., SUPPRESSION OF THE NOCTURNAL FREE FATTY-ACID LEVELS BY BEDTIME CORNSTARCH IN NIDDM SUBJECTS, European journal of clinical investigation, 27(2), 1997, pp. 157-163
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Medicine, Research & Experimental","Medicine, General & Internal
The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of a large dos
e of slow-release carbohydrates (CHOs) at bedtime on the nocturnal glu
cose, insulin and free fatty acid (FFA) levels, and to assess the puta
tive effects on morning fasting and post-prandial glucose levels in pa
tients with moderately controlled non-insulindependent diabetes mellit
us (NIDDM). Unheated cornstarch (106 g of CHO) or a mixed equicaloric
meal (58 g of CHO) was given at 22.00 hours to 10 NIDDM patients. For
comparison, the patients were also given a smaller mixed meal at 22.00
hours on a third occasion (17 g of CHO). Compared with the mixed meal
s, cornstarch led to a slightly elevated early-morning plasma insulin
level and a suppression of the nocturnal FFA level (P <0.05), as well
as to a reduced incremental glucose level (IAUC) after breakfast the n
ext morning by approximately 30% (P <0.05). There was a significant an
d linear relationship between the nocturnal FFA level and the glucose
IAUC after breakfast (r=0.44, P <0.02), indicating that the effect may
have been mediated by the suppressive effect of cornstarch on nocturn
al lipolysis. In summary, bedtime intake of unheated cornstarch in NID
DM subjects is associated with a suppression of the nocturnal FFA leve
ls and a reduced glucose IAUC after breakfast. As the treatment did no
t improve overall glucose control, studies of the effects of an indivi
dually titrated amount of cornstarch are proposed to further explore t
he putative favourable effects of bedtime cornstarch in the treatment
of NIDDM.