Glycemic, insulinemic, and breath hydrogen responses to pullulan in healthy humans

The objective of this study was to evaluate the glycemic, insulinemic, and breath hydrogen responses of healthy adult humans to low-molecular weight pullulan (molecular weight = 6300). Subjects (n = 34) consumed 50 g of maltodextrin or low-molecular weight pullulan in a randomized, double-masked, crossover design. Plasma glucose and serum insulin responses were determined over 180 minutes, and breath hydrogen response was determined for 8 hours. Low-molecular weight pullulan did not improve glucose response, but a reduction (P < .05) in serum insulin at 30, 60, and 90 minutes was noted. Peak insulin and area under the curve were reduced (P < .05) by 23% and 20%, respectively. Breath hydrogen increased (P < .05) at 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 hours. Although low-molecular weight pullulan does not impact glycemia per se, it may reduce insulin response, resulting in decreased insulin concentrations in healthy adult humans.