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Effects of a casein hydrolysate versus intact casein on gastric emptying and amino acid responses

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Abstract

Purpose

Milk proteins and/or their hydrolysates have been reported to have beneficial effects for improving postprandial glycaemia. Gastric emptying is a major determinant of postprandial glycaemia, yet limited studies have examined the effects of intact milk proteins compared to hydrolysates on gastric emptying. We investigated gastric emptying of a casein hydrolysate compared to intact casein.

Methods

Nine overweight and obese adults (mean ± SD age: 59.5 ± 6.5 years and BMI 28.4 ± 2.6 kg/m2) were studied in a randomised crossover design. Gastric emptying was assessed by paracetamol absorption test, with HPLC-MS being used for determining paracetamol and its primary metabolites in plasma. Glucose, insulin and amino acid responses were also assessed.

Results

Linear mixed model analysis showed no effect of treatment [F(1, 55) = 2.1, P = 0.16] or treatment × time interactions [F(6, 54) = 1.5, P = 0.21] for paracetamol concentrations. In addition, there were no significant differences between the intact casein and hydrolysate for any of the gastric emptying outcome measures (Cmax, AUC0–30min, AUC0–60min; AUC0–240min). However, insulin was increased in the early postprandial period (iAUC0–15min, iAUC0–30min;P < 0.05) and there was a treatment effect for glucose [F(1, 53) = 5.3, P = 0.03] following the casein hydrolysate compared to intact casein. No significant differences in amino acids were found between the two conditions.

Conclusions

Gastric emptying of a casein hydrolysate compared to intact casein does not differ. Mechanisms other than gastric emptying, for example the presence of a bioactive peptide sequence, may contribute to the glycaemic management effects of certain milk protein hydrolysates and warrant further investigation.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Enterprise Ireland for funding (Grant no. TC20130001). We would also like to acknowledge Kerry Food for the casein and Teagasc Moorepark for the casein hydrolysate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Agriculture and Food Science, Institute of Food and Health and Food for Health Ireland (FHI), University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Katy Horner, Elaine Drummond, Victoria O’Sullivan, Pedapati S.C. Sri Harsha & Lorraine Brennan

  2. School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Katy Horner

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  1. Katy Horner
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  2. Elaine Drummond
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Correspondence to Lorraine Brennan.

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Conflict of interest

This work was supported by Enterprise Ireland through Food for Health Ireland. ED currently works for Glanbia but has no conflicts of interest. KH, VOS, SHP and LB declare no conflicts of interest.

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Horner, K., Drummond, E., O’Sullivan, V. et al. Effects of a casein hydrolysate versus intact casein on gastric emptying and amino acid responses. Eur J Nutr 58, 955–964 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-018-1610-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-018-1610-8

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