Postprandial hyperglycemia and
hyperinsulinemia are often present in obese subjects with
glucose intolerance in whom insufficient early phase insulin secretion and subsequent delayed hyperinsulin response are observed. To address this problem, a novel
palatinose-based enteral formula designated as MHN-01 was developed for the prevention of
postprandial hyperglycemia and
hyperinsulinemia. The effects of MHN-01 on
carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were compared with those of the standard balanced formula (SBF). After a bolus intragastric injection of each formula equivalent to 0.9 g/kg
carbohydrate, the peak levels of plasma
glucose (PG) and
insulin (IRI) in peripheral and portal veins of the MHN-01 group were significantly lower than those of the SBF group. The areas under the curve of PG and IRI in the MHN-01 group were 58.0% and 43.1% of those in the SBF group in the femoral vein and 65.0% and 69.3% in the portal vein, respectively. In the 2-month study, serum levels of IRI and
triglyceride in peripheral blood in the MHN-01 group decreased and those in the SBF group increased compared with initial levels. Consequently, both levels in the MHN-01 group were significantly lower than those in the SBF group. In addition, the amount of accumulated fat in abdominal adipose tissue and liver tissue of the MHN-01 group was markedly reduced in comparison to that of the SBF group.
Insulin sensitivity, evaluated as
glucose infusion rate using the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp technique, in the MHN-01 group was higher than that in the SBF group. Thus, in comparison to SBF, MHN-01 suppressed
postprandial hyperglycemia and
hyperinsulinemia, reduced visceral fat accumulation, and improved
insulin sensitivity. Therefore, human study on the effects of MHN-01 on
carbohydrate and lipid metabolism will be recommended to confirm whether MHN-01 may be a useful functional food for the treatment and prevention of
insulin resistance.