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Global Translational Medicine Glucosidase and metabolic profiles

carbohydrate meal. As sucrose was the only carbohydrate These changes, along with greater food availability, have
in the research diet, luminal glucosidases would normally inadvertently made it more challenging for individuals to
digest sucrose completely within the first 30 to 45 min maintain energy balance in a more sedentary society. In
post-prandially, depending on meal size, with subsequent addition, modernized biological energy- and labor-saving
luminal absorption of fructose. Thus, any delay in luminal innovations in daily life—common in Western nations—
carbohydrate digestion is expected to decrease the may also be significant contributors. Today’s home and
magnitude and intensity of glycemic excursions, including workplace efficiency standards allow more time for leisure
plasma glucose and insulin levels, following a carbohydrate- and relaxation, reducing the physical exertion experienced
containing meal. The significant reduction in the AUC for by past generations. Given these factors, it is important to
glucose, along with the modest improvement in HOMA, explore novel approaches to address the emerging trends
provides further evidence of MIG’s efficacy in modulating in disordered energy balance and their contributions to
carbohydrate digestion in the upper regions of the small pathophysiological sequelae, which may, at least in part,
intestine, soon after gastric emptying. This likely occurs result from technological advancements. While no single
secondary to decreases in plasma insulin concentrations. strategy has yet been proven effective in addressing the
Further support for improvements in insulin sensitivity obesity and T2DM dilemma, several relevant animal
is provided by the decreases in glucokinase, an enzyme models have been developed, including the SHR/Ntul//-cp
that functions as the β-cell sensor for insulin release in rat, the LA/Ntul//-cp rat, the Wistar Fatty Rat, the Zucker
response to rising plasma glucose levels, and in malic fatty rat, and others. 18,21-25 These models provide insights
enzyme and glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase, into effective environmental and pharmacological
which contributes to lipogenesis by catalyzing NADPH strategies and help further elucidate the pathophysiological
generation. The availability of NIDPH is essential for mechanisms involved in the epigenetic expression of traits
de novo fatty acid biosynthesis in the liver and adipose that contribute to obesity and T2DM.
tissue. 17,33-38 Furthermore, improved insulin sensitivity may The consumption of high carbohydrate, calorically
help reduce oxidative stress and enhance protein utilization dense, and high-glycemic-index diets, which are common
efficiency. 17,22-38 in Western societies, is often contraindicated in obesity and
Given that T2DM, in association with obesity, T2DM as these diets are often associated with unwelcome
overweight conditions, and metabolic syndrome, are elevations in weight gain, adiposity, fasting plasma lipid
emerging as one of the most prevalent metabolic disorders levels, and other stigmata of obesity and T2DM. 1-3,8 Present
globally, it is imperative that a productive, cost-effective therapeutic strategies often include lifestyle changes, such
therapeutic strategy be developed and implemented to as adopting a healthier diet, which typically emphasizes
effectively address these conditions. At present, more complex carbohydrates, modest fat intake, and adequate
1-7
than a third of the population in Western societies is fiber and micronutrient consumption, combined with
affected by overweight or obesity, with a high prevalence of increased physical activity. The cumulative dietary and
T2DM among those with metabolic syndrome. Treatment lifestyle changes are intended to lead to a lower-calorie,
4
of T2DM and obesity is often lifelong, imposing a lower-glycemic index diet, which better matches an
significant burden on healthcare resources due to the large individual’s energy requirements and helps maintain a
number of patients with comorbidities associated with the neutral energy balance. Incorporating starch-blocking
disorder and the extended duration of their treatment. agents such as acarbose, MIG, or other natural inhibitors
Discontinuation of an effective treatment strategy typically of starch digestion may complement a lower-glycemic-
1-3
leads to relapse within weeks to months, often accompanied index, high-fiber diet. These agents may help produce
by the return of previous comorbidities. 1-6 lasting weight loss with corresponding improvements in
the common pathophysiological stigmata of obesity and
The prevalence of obesity and T2DM has placed an T2DM, potentially contributing to improvements in the
enormous economic burden on healthcare systems in individual’s metabolic profile. Luminal modulation of
many communities. These disorder also contributes to carbohydrate digestion and monosaccharide absorption
1-4
economic losses in workplace productivity, as individuals through α-glucosidase inhibitors, combined with
may struggle to meet their workplace obligations in a naturally occurring food components (often from
timely or effective manner due to illnesses linked to obesity vegetarian sources), may also have similar effects on
and T2DM. The industrialization of food processing α-glucosidase activity. Considering that the primary
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1-3
and distribution has enhanced food safety, but it has mechanism of action of most α-glucosidase and sucrase
also led to changes in dietary preferences and nutritional inhibitors is competitive inhibition, typically limited to
practices, differing from those of past generations. the luminal brush border region with little to no post-
6,7

Volume 4 Issue 2 (2025) 65 doi: 10.36922/gtm.6501