Composition and method for the treatment of dysglucaemia

Abstract

Dysglucaemia is treated and/or prevented by the administration of granulated starch, enzymatically degraded and releasing reducing sugars at a rate, adjusted to the metabolism of the patient, suffering from dysglucaemia. For example nocturnal hypoglycaemia in diabetic patients is prevented by administering to said patients a granulate or tablets comprising granulated cornstarch, and preferably also heat treated cornstarch and a low calorie sweetener. The inventive granulation minimises the available surface area and retards the enzymatic degradation of the cornstarch and ensures a controlled, e.g. a substantially linear release of reducing sugars, such as glucose, and a stable blood glucose level during several hours. The granulate or tablets are low in calories and contain no free sugar.

1 . A composition for delayed enzymatic degradation of starch in the gastrointestinal tract of a mammal, characterized in that said composition contains an optimal and minimized amount of granulated starch, the degree of granulation being adapted to the desired enzymatic degradation rate of said starch, a low calorie sweetener and an organic acid.  
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the starch is native cornstarch.  
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the starch is granulated and at least partially encapsulated in a substance chosen among gum arabicum, potassium alginate, guar gum, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose; liquid oils, liquid and hard fats and waxes, such as paraffin, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, beeswax and carnauba wax.  
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the starch is granulated and at least partially encapsulated in ethyl cellulose.  
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the enzymatic degradation is delayed to an extent resulting in a controlled, substantially linear glucose release for more than 4 hours, preferably more than 6 hours, most preferably more than 8 hours.  
     
     
         6 . A composition for delayed degradation of starch, characterized in that said composition comprises about 60-90% by weight granulated native cornstarch, 0.01-25% by weight of a low calorie sweetener.  
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the native cornstarch is granulated with ethyl cellulous.  
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 6 , further comprising an organic acid.