Slowly hydrolyzable property of microbial dextrans at the small intestinal α-glucosidase levels leads to the modulated glycemic responses in the mouse model

초록

Dextran-type alpha-glucans have been known as non-digestible ingredients that can be considered prebiotics to promote colon health. However, recent studies have revealed that various alpha-linked glucosyl units are hydrolyzed to glucose by small intestinal alpha-glucosidases. This study analyzed the structural characteristics of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) from Weissella species, and the hydrolysis properties at both in vitro/in vivo levels were investigated. Compared with a previous in vitro digestion model using fungal alpha-hydrolytic enzymes, dextrans, which mainly consist of alpha-1,6 linkages with small amounts of alpha-1,3 linked glucose units, were slowly hydrolyzed to glucose by mammalian mucosal alpha-glucosidases, resulting in attenuation of the initial glycemic response following administration of EPS samples to mice via oral gavage. The results of this study demonstrate the concept of dextran-type alpha-glucans as glycemic carbohydrates rather than dietary fibers or prebiotics. Slowly digestible dextrans can be applied as a functional ingredient to regulate postprandial glucose delivery throughout the gastrointestinal tract.

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