RHONDA S. WITWER

Ingredion Incorporated, 10 Finderne Avenue, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807, USA

Abstract

Consumers are concerned about the impact of carbohydrates on their blood sugar levels. While there has been considerable discussion on the post-prandial glycemic response of foods, the research has been chronically inconsistent in confirming potential health benefits. In contrast, insulin sensitivity is directly connected to maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. This review will profile the evidence demonstrating that type 2 resistant starch from high amylose corn is ideal for formulating foods to help people manage their blood sugar levels. It has a reduced post-prandial glycemic response, it significantly improves insulin sensitivity and blood sugar metabolism, it replaces flour in formulations while maintaining the taste and textures that consumers prefer and it can be used as a supplement to the diet.

The market for foods that help manage blood sugar levels is emerging. The low carbohydrate diet fad of ten years ago was a major shock to the food industry that carbohydrates and their impact on weight and blood sugar levels were important to consumers. While the food industry focused on whole grains in the intervening decade, consumers did not forget about the importance of their blood sugar levels and many continued to avoid carbohydrate-rich foods. Recently, 26% of American primary grocery shoppers reported that they had decreased their consumption of carbohydrates within the past two years, according to the 2013 HealthFocus Trend Survey. In addition, Euromonitor reports that retail volume of baked goods are expected to decline by 3% in the US market between 2011 and 2016 (1).

While the larger, mainstream markets are struggling to grow, innovative companies are venturing into new business development in foods that help ma ... ...