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Recently, 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol (1,5-AG) has been manufactured using microbe-derived enzymes and we previously reported that it inhibits intestinal sucrase and maltase activity. However, its function in supplements for diabetes prevention has not been clarified. We investigated the effect feeding of 1,5-AG has of delaying the onset of diabetes through its antioxidant properties. KKAy mice were raised with an AIN93G (control), 3 % or 6 % 1,5-AG, or 6 % erythritol (ERT, positive control) diet for 7 weeks. Urinary glucose excretion in the 6 % 1,5-AG group at 4 and 6 weeks and in the 6 % ERT group at 4, 6, and 7 weeks was significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). After 7 weeks, urine 8-hydroxy-2’- deoxyguanosine, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, and triacylglycerol in the 6 % 1,5-AG group were lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). Feeding of 6 % 1,5-AG appears to prevent the onset of diabetes-related symptoms through its systemic antioxidant effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we developed a functional sweet that has a suppressive effect on plasma glucose elevation while taking the taste characteristics of barley bran obtained through a novel milling method, as well as preference, into account. The experiment was conducted with 10 healthy female subjects using a within-subject, cross-over study design. Baked doughnuts were made using barley bran (test sweet) and wheat flour (control sweet). Compared with the control, once baked doughnuts with barley bran were consumed, there was a reduction in peak plasma glucose elevation and insulin secretion (p < 0.05), as well as a significantly lower area under the curve (p < 0.05). According to sensory evaluation results, no significant difference in subjects’ preference for baked doughnuts was observed across all items. The findings imply that highly appealing sweets may aid in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Resistant glucan (RG) and hydrogenated resistant glucan (HRG) are new dietary fiber materials developed to decrease the risk of metabolic syndrome and lifestyle-related diseases. We investigated the metabolism and bioavailability of RG and HRG using rats and humans. Methods: Purified RG and HRG were used as test substances. After 25 Wistar male rats (270 g) were fed with an experimental diet (AIN93M diet with the cellulose replaced by β-corn starch) ad libitum for 1 week, they were used for the experiment involving blood collection and circulating air collection. Ten participants (5 males, 22.5 y, BMI 20.4 kg/m²; 5 females, 25.8 y, BMI 20.9 kg/m²) voluntarily participated in this study. The study was carried out using a within-subject, repeated measures design. Effects of RG and HRG on the response for blood glucose and insulin and hydrogen excretion were compared with those of glucose and a typical nondigestible and fermentable fructooligosaccharide (FOS) in rats and humans. Available energy was evaluated using the fermentability based on breath hydrogen excretion. Results: When purified RG or HRG (400 mg) was administered orally to rats, blood glucose and insulin increased slightly, but less than when glucose was administration (P< 0.05). Hydrogen started to be excreted 120 min after administration of RG with negligibly small peak at 180 min, thereafter excreted scarcely until 1440 min. Hydrogen excretion after HRG administration showed a larger peak than RG at 180 min, but was markedly less than FOS. RG and HRG were excreted in feces, but not urine. When purified RG or HRG (30 g) were ingested by healthy humans, blood glucose and insulin levels increased scarcely. Breath hydrogen excretion increased slightly, but remarkably less than FOS. Ingestion of purified RG or HRG (5 g) to evaluate available energy, increased scarcely glucose and insulin levels and breath hydrogen excretion. Available energy was evaluated as 0 kcal/g for purified RG and 1 kcal/g for HRG. Conclusion: The bioavailability was very low in both humans and rats, because oligosaccharide of minor component in purified RG and HRG was metabolized via intestinal microbes but major components with higher molecular weight were metabolized scarcely. Moreover, the ingestion of 30 g of RG or HRG did not induce apparent acute side effects in healthy adults. RG and HRG might potentially be used as new dietary fiber materials with low energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We hypothesized that daily intake of nondigestible saccharides delays senescence onset through the improvement of intestinal microflora. Here, we raised senescence accelerated mice prone 8 (SAMP8) on the AIN93 diet (CONT), with sucrose being substituted for 5% of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) or 5% of glucomannan (GM), 15 mice per group. Ten SAMR1 were raised as reference of normal aging with control diet. Grading of senescence was conducted using the method developed by Hosokawa, and body weight, dietary intake, and drinking water intake were measured on alternate days. Following 38 weeks of these diets we evaluated learning and memory abilities using a passive avoidance apparatus and investigated effects on the intestinal microflora, measured oxidative stress markers, and inflammatory cytokines. Continuous intake of FOS and GM significantly enhanced learning and memory ability and decelerated senescence development when compared with the CONT group. Bifidobacterium levels were significantly increased in FOS and GM-fed mice. Urinary 8OHdG, 15-isoprostane, serum TNF-α, and IL-6 were also lower in FOS-fed mice, while IL-10 in FOS and GM groups was higher than in CONT group. These findings suggest that daily intake of nondigestible saccharides delays the onset of senescence via improvement of intestinal microflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]