Comparative analysis of maple syrup to other natural sweeteners and evaluation of their metabolic responses in healthy rats

• Published in: Journal of functional foods Vol. 11; pp. 460 - 471
• Main Authors: St-Pierre, Philippe, Pilon, Geneviève, Dumais, Valérie, Dion, Christine, Dubois, Marie-Julie, Dubé, Pascal, Desjardins, Yves, Marette, André
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2014
• Subjects: Abscisic acid; brown rice; chemical composition; corn syrup; gastric inhibitory polypeptide; glucose; Glycaemia and insulinaemia; honey; Incretin; ingestion; insulin; lignans; Maple syrup; metabolic studies; molasses; Natural sweeteners; Polyphenols; rats; refined sugar; sweeteners; ABA; ABA-GE; Incretin; GLP-1; Natural sweeteners; GIP; Glycaemia and insulinaemia; CVD; PA; 7-OH-ABA; DPA; Maple syrup; trans-ABA; Abscisic acid; Polyphenols; Neo-PA; HbA1c
• ISSN: 1756-4646; 2214-9414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2014.10.001

•Maple syrup is rich in polyphenolic lignans and in the phytohormone abscisic acid.•Maple syrup produces lower glucose and insulin responses than the dextrose control.•Brown rice and corn syrup induced higher metabolic responses than maple syrup.•Honey caused higher peak responses for insulin, amylin and GIP than maple syrup.•Metabolic effects of agave syrup and molasses were similar to that of maple syrup. Maple syrup is a natural source of carbohydrates but its metabolic impact remains poorly studied. We undertook to systematically compare the chemical composition of maple syrup with that of other natural sweeteners, and assess their metabolic responses in healthy rats. As compared to other sweeteners, maple syrup is particularly rich in polyphenolic lignans and in the phytohormone abscisic acid and its derivatives. Metabolic studies in rats showed that maple syrup produced significantly lower peak and global responses of glucose, insulin, amylin and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) as compared to brown rice syrup, corn syrup and pure dextrose. The metabolic effects of agave syrup and molasses were similar to that of maple syrup, while honey caused higher peak responses for insulin, amylin and GIP. Both the composition of maple syrup and the metabolic responses to its ingestion in rats indicate that it represents a healthy natural alternative to refined sugar.