Blood Sugar/Glycemic Clinical Studies

Resistant starch contributes to healthy blood sugar levels (glycemic health) in three important ways:

• Reduced glycemic response – Purified resistant starch is non-glycemic – it does not break down to glucose in the small intestine.  However, ingredients are not available as purified resistant starch – they contain a mixture of glycemic starch and non-glycemic resistant starch. When resistant starch substitutes for flour or other high glycemic carbohydrates, the glycemic and insulin response of that food is reduced in direct proportion to the quantity of the substitution. In other words, higher levels of substitution result in greater reductions in glycemic and insulin response.
  • At least 23 clinical studies demonstrate this benefit.
  • The latest study utilized a white rice bred for increased resistant starch content, Mohan DTT 2016
• Reduced glycemic response of the subsequent meal – When resistant starch is consumed, there is a reduced glycemic response of the next meal. This demonstrates that there is a metabolic benefit from resistant starch’s intestinal fermentation and it is not just a reduced glycemic response effect.
  • 6 clinical studies demonstrate this benefit: Behall AJCN 1989, Brighenti AJCN 2006, Robertson D 2003, Robertson AJCN 2005, Weickert D 2005, Sandberg NJ 2017.
• Improved insulin sensitivity – When resistant starch is consumed as a supplement or within a meal, the body’s muscles and tissues become more responsive to insulin’s effects – it is more efficient at moving glucose out of the bloodstream and into the muscles and tissues. Loss of insulin sensitivity is a major biomarker for the development of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
  • 9 clinical studies demonstrate this benefit in healthy adults and prediabetic individuals (who have higher insulin levels but are still able to maintain blood sugar control) . Healthy adults – Robertson D 2003, Robertson AJCN 2005, Bodinham BJN 2013), Hoffmann Sarda JFF 2016. Prediabetic adults – Johnston DM 2010, Maki JN 2012, Robertson JCEM 2012, Gower NM 2016, and Dainty JN 2016.
  • 2 clinical studies found conflicting results in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Zhang CJPM 2007 found improved insulin sensitivity in Chinese adults. In contrast, Bodinham EC 2014 did not find improved insulin sensitivity, but she did find improved meal glucose tolerance, improved fat metabolism and reduced obesity-associated inflammation in British adults with type 2 diabetes.

The full list of clinical studies can be found on the List of RS Clinicals page.

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