Impact of Slowly Digestible Carbohydrates on Gastric Emptying Rates

Corn starch, a commonly consumed food ingredient, considered GRAS (generally recognized as safe) CFR 182.70- 182.90 will be used as the test meal treatment fed to non-responding subjects (rapid gastric emptying rate after consumption of slowly digestible carbohydrate) for 1 month. Corn starch will be mixed with applesauce (200 g) and a small amount of xanthan gum (amount to be determined) (GRAS # 121) for palatability and viscosity, respectively.

In order to determine whether potential changes in gastric emptying time are induced by consumption of slowly digestible carbohydrates, a control group will be used. The control group will consume a meal composed applesauce (200 g) and xanthan gum with a fast digesting carbohydrate (30 g DE -1 maltodextrinpregelatinized starch). The product is commercially available and will be provided by Tate and Lyle under the brand name of Star-Dri 1. The general term "maltodextrin" is a non-sweet nutritive polymer that consists of D-glucose units linked primarily by [alpha]-1-4 bonds and that has a dextrose equivalent (D.E.) of less than 20. It is regarded as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for direct use as a food ingredient (GRAS, 21CFR184.1444).DE-1 Maltodextrin is commercially available and will be provided by Tate and Lyle under the brand name of Star-Dri 1. Maltodextrin is a non-sweet nutritive saccharide polymer that consists of D-glucose units linked primarily by [alpha]-1-4 bonds and that has a dextrose equivalent (D.E.) of less than 20. It is regarded as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration for direct use as a food ingredient (GRAS, 21CFR184.1444). Ultimately, this study will help elucidate attributes of carbohydrate-based foods that can promote slow digestion and create a satiety feeling and promote weight management, which can then be implemented to develop foods with superior health benefits.