Prebiotic, probiotic, and postbiotic properties of fermented corn starch and their application in type 2 diabetes management

Table 1 Prebiotic potentials of fermented corn starch in the management of type 2 diabetes

Prebiotic	Study model	Treatment	Antidiabetic mechanism	Ref.
Resistant starch	Human clinical trial	Daily supplementation with 10 g of resistant starch type 2 for 8 weeks	Improved glycemic control (reduced fasting blood glucose and HbA1c), decreased insulin resistance (lower HOMA-IR), reduced inflammatory markers (hs-CRP, TNF-α), and enhanced antioxidant status (increased TAC and antioxidant enzymes, decreased MDA), indicating improved insulin sensitivity and reduced oxidative stress	[50]
Resistant dextrin	Human clinical trial	Daily supplementation with 45 g of milk powder co-supplemented with inulin and resistant dextrin for 12 weeks	Significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose (0.96 mmol/L), 2-hour postprandial glucose (1.47 mmol/L), glycosylated serum protein (16.33 μmol/L), and insulin resistance index (0.65); increases in 2-hour postprandial insulin (7.09 μIU/mL) and β-cell function index (20.43), indicating improved glycemic control and insulin sensitivity	[51]
IMO	Human clinical trial	Single ingestion of 20 g IMO; responses compared to dextrose and other carbohydrates	Stimulated insulin and incretin hormone (GLP-1 and GIP) secretion, suggesting potential benefits for glycemic control and insulin sensitivity	[52]
Maltodextrins	In vivo	Dietary substitution with maltodextrins as the primary carbohydrate source	Maltodextrins slowly release glucose until the distal ileum, activating ileal glucose-sensing and inducing GLP-1 secretion. This enhances insulin secretion and improves glucose homeostasis; the beneficial effects are mediated through GLP-1 receptor signaling	[53]
GOS	In vitro	Optimized GOS production tested on beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus) and for anti-inflammatory effects in TNF-α-stimulated HT-29 cells	Promoted beneficial gut microbiota growth, reduced IL-8 levels in inflamed cells, suggesting potential for improving insulin sensitivity and reducing metabolic inflammation	[52]

HbA1c: Glycated hemoglobin A1c; HOMA-IR: Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance; hs-CRP: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-α; TAC: Total antioxidant capacity; MDA: Malondialdehyde; IMO: Isomalto-oligosaccharides; GLP-1: Glucagon-like peptide-1; GIP: Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide; GOS: Gluco-oligosaccharides; HT-29 cells: Human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell; IL-8: Interleukin-8.