In an attempt to develop
D-sorbose as a new
sweetener that could help in preventing lifestyle-related diseases, we investigated the inhibitory effect of
D-sorbose on
disaccharidase activity, using the brush border membrane vesicles of rat small intestines. The inhibitory effect was compared with that of
L-sorbose and other rare
sugars, and the small intestinal
disaccharidases in rats was compared with that of humans as well. In humans and the small intestines of rats,
d-sorbose strongly inhibited
sucrase activity and weakly inhibited
maltase activity. Inhibition by
D-sorbose of
sucrase activity was similar to that of
L-arabinose, and the K(i) of
D-sorbose was 7.5 mM. Inhibition by
D-sorbose was very strong in comparison with that of
L-sorbose (K(i), 60.8 mM), whereas inhibition of
d-tagatose was between that of
D-sorbose and
L-sorbose. The inhibitory mode of
D-sorbose for
sucrose and
maltase was uncompetitive, and that of
L-sorbose was competitive. To determine a suppressive effect on postprandial blood levels of
glucose and
insulin via inhibition of
sucrase activity,
sucrose solution with or without
D-sorbose was administered to rats. Increments in the blood levels of
glucose and
insulin were suppressed significantly after administration of
sucrose solution with
D-sorbose to rats, in comparison to administration of
sucrose solution without
D-sorbose. In contrast, the suppressive effect of
L-sorbose on postprandial blood levels of
glucose and
insulin was very weak. These results suggest that
D-sorbose may have an inhibitory effect on
disaccharidase activity and could be used as a
sweetener to suppress the postprandial elevation of blood levels of
glucose and
insulin. The use of
D-sorbose as a
sweetener may contribute to the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases, such as
type 2 diabetes mellitus.