Differences in glycaemia, hormonal response and energy expenditure after a meal rich in mono‐ and disaccharides compared to a meal rich in polysaccharides in physically fit and sedentary subjects

Postprandial glycaemia, hormonal response and energy expenditure (EE) were measured after two isocaloric carbohydrate-rich meals (69 energy-percent [E%] carbohydrate, 16 E% fat) rich in either mono- and disaccharides (47 E%, half of which sucrose) (MD) or polysaccharides (64 E%; P). Both meals were based on natural food items and were tested in a cross-over design in a group of sedentary (S) and trained (T) healthy, young subjects. Compared with the P meal blood glucose concentrations were significantly decreased and plasma insulin concentration significantly increased after the MD meal. A group difference was observed after the P meal with increased glucose and decreased insulin concentrations for T compared with S. Plasma norepinephrine concentrations were significantly increased after the MD meal compared with the P meal, but for S only. For both groups a significantly increased EE was observed 3 and 5 h after the MD meal compared with the P meal. However, no significant differences between the meals were observed in plasma insulin or catecholamine concentrations 3 and 5 h postprandially, when EE was measured. In conclusion, significant differences were observed in postprandial glucose and hormone responses as well as energy expenditure after two meals based on either mono- and disaccharide-rich or polysaccharide-rich food items. Physical fitness level influenced the glucose and hormonal responses but not the relative increases in postprandial energy expenditure.