SCIENCE  |  NUTRITION

A type of starch that resists digestion in the small intestine and behaves more like dietary fiber. Instead of being broken down and absorbed, resistant starch passes into the large intestine, where it can be fermented by gut bacteria. This fermentation process produces beneficial short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, which can provide various health benefits.

Amylose

Resistant starch (RS) has gained attention for its potential benefits in metabolic health, glycemic control, and obesity management. Studies have shown that RS types 1 and 2 significantly lower postprandial blood glucose and improve insulin response in patients with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, highlighting its role in managing glycemic levels effectively (Frontiers in Nutrition, 2023).

High-amylose maize starch supplementation has also been found to improve markers of metabolic health, such as insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles, reinforcing RS’s benefits for individuals with metabolic syndrome (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2022).

RS supplementation enhances beneficial gut bacteria, contributing to better gut microbiota composition and overall health outcomes (Gut Microbes, 2022). Additionally, RS consumption leads to reductions in body weight and fat mass in overweight and obese individuals, attributed to increased satiety and reduced caloric intake (Obesity Reviews, 2022).

However, a randomized crossover assessment of native banana starch and high-amylose maize starch concluded that these types did not significantly improve glycemic control or variability, suggesting a need for further research to understand RS’s mechanisms better (Nutrients, 2021).

In conclusion, RS shows promise for improving metabolic health, glycemic control, and weight management. Further research is needed to optimize RS supplementation strategies for various health outcomes.

FIVE CATEGORIES OF RESISTANT STARCH

RS1 – Physically inaccessible starch found in whole or partially milled grains, seeds, and legumes.

RS2 – Starch granules that resist digestion due to their natural structure, found in raw potatoes, green bananas, and high amylose corn starch.

RS3 – Retrograded starch formed when starchy foods like potatoes and rice are cooked and then cooled. Upon cooling, some of the starch becomes resistant to digestion.

RS4 – Chemically modified starches that are designed to be resistant to digestion, often used as food additives in processed foods.

RS5 – Starches that are complexed with lipids.

PUBLICATIONS

  1. A comparison of the effects of resistant starch types on glycemic response in individuals with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
          • Front Nutr. 2023
          • Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
          • Summary: Resistant starch types 1 and 2 significantly lowered postprandial blood glucose and improved insulin response in individuals with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.
  2. Resistant Starch Consumption Effects on Glycemic Control and Glycemic Variability in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Crossover Study.
          • Nutrients. 2021
          • Design: Randomized crossover study.
          • Summary: Resistant starch from native banana and high-amylose maize did not significantly improve glycemic control or variability in patients with type 2 diabetes.
  3. Effects of resistant starch on glycaemic control: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
          • Br J Nutr. 2021
          • Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
          • Summary: Resistant starch significantly improved fasting plasma glucose and insulin resistance, particularly with higher dosages and longer intervention periods.
  4. Impact of dietary intake of resistant starch on obesity and associated metabolic profiles in human: a systematic review of the literature.
          • Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2021
          • Design: Systematic review of the literature.
          • Summary: Resistant starch intake showed beneficial effects on blood glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, and gut hormone concentrations but had inconsistent results on obesity and metabolic profiles.
  5. Effects of the resistant starch on glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, and lipid parameters in overweight or obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
          • Nutr Diabetes. 2019
          • Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies.
          • Summary: Resistant starch supplementation improved fasting glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, and sensitivity, particularly in overweight or obese diabetics.
  6. Resistant starch from high-amylose maize increases insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese men.
          • J Nutr. 2012
          • Design: Randomized crossover study.
          • Summary: High-amylose maize resistant starch improved insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese men, with no significant effects observed in women.
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