A new study[i], conducted by Zhang et al., has demonstrated that consuming Palatinose™ (isomaltulose) improves the body’s hormonal and glycemic response to a second meal by increasing GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and PYY (peptide tyrosine tyrosine) levels, helping adults with metabolic syndrome[1] better manage their blood sugar. The findings underscore the potential of Palatinose™ to support glycemic stability in people with impaired metabolism.
The human intervention study followed a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled crossover design (RCT). It was conducted by a team of various international research institutes and supervised by Prof. Pfeiffer, a leading scientist in endocrinology, diabetes, and nutritional medicine and senior professor at Charité Berlin. As part of the trial, 15 adults with metabolic syndrome (with a mean age of 62) consumed either 50g of isomaltulose or 50g of sucrose incorporated into a 500ml citrus drink. The study followed two trial protocols: Protocol A included a breakfast with the test drink, followed by three hours of metabolic monitoring, a standardized lunch after three hours, and a further six hours of monitoring afterwards. Protocol B comprised a breakfast followed by three hours of metabolic monitoring, the test drink three hours after breakfast and one hour before a standardized lunch, which was followed by five hours of monitoring. The key measurements monitored included blood glucose, insulin, and gut hormones (GLP-1, PYY), which are known to promote satiety and support blood glucose control.
The findings showed that Palatinose™ – a slow-release carbohydrate derived from beet sugar – resulted in a lower blood glucose response compared to sucrose, characterized by a significantly lower blood glucose peak. In parallel, the release of beneficial gut hormones GLP-1 and PYY was increased. This resulted in a slower and lower blood glucose response to lunch, also described as a second-meal effect. The results demonstrate that Palatinose™ not only lowers post-meal glucose spikes but also improves hormonal balance over time and thereby supports metabolic stability across meals. Adults with metabolic syndrome in particular benefit from this prolonged hormone response, leading to stabilized blood glucose levels and improved insulin release, suggesting increased insulin sensitivity.
Importantly, the benefits were more pronounced with the three-hour preload (Protocol A) than one hour (Protocol B), highlighting the critical importance of timing for maximum effect. This also offers helpful guidance for real-life applications, for example, functional snacks containing Palatinose™ that can be eaten between meals.
The issue of obesity has risen significantly over the last decade, and today 1 in 4 adults (28.2%) suffer from metabolic syndrome.[ii] This growing burden demonstrates the importance and relevance of strategies like timed Palatinose™ intake, which improve postprandial hormone profiles, support second-meal glucose regulation, and strengthen metabolic health in a large at-risk population.
Dr Stephan Theis, Head of Nutrition Science and Communication at BENEO, commented: “This study shows how smart sugar choices like Palatinose™ can help the body manage blood sugar not just after eating, but even hours later. It strengthens the evidence for the second-meal effect, resulting from the sustained release of GLP-1 and PYY. The findings highlight the strong potential of functional carbohydrates in supporting long-term metabolic health.
BENEO continues to invest in high-quality nutritional research to support evidence-based ingredient innovation, and this study adds another landmark piece of evidence to this consistent and growing scientific portfolio.”
This latest study complements a growing body of research on Palatinose™ and its impact on gut hormone modulation. This includes a recent systematic review and meta-analysis on this topic that was presented at the IUNS International Congress of Nutrition 2025, which confirmed the consistent GLP-1 increase with PalatinoseTM and further substantiated its metabolic advantages.[iii]
In the EU, PalatinoseTM benefits from an authorized health claim on the blood glucose-lowering effect, while structure and function claims for lower rise in blood glucose and GLP-1 release are possible in the USA.
ENDS
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The BENEO-Institute is an organization which brings together BENEO’s expertise from Nutrition Science and Regulatory teams. It acts as an advisory body for customers and partners reaching from ingredient approval, physiological effects and nutritional composition to communication, education, and labelling. The BENEO-Institute works on topics related to the microbiome and prebiotics, digestive health and well-being, blood sugar management and the achievement of lower glycaemic diets, cognition and mental health, as well as bone health. It also addresses nutrition related questions regarding protein and fibre intake requirements, sugar reduction and more.
The BENEO-Institute facilitates access to the latest scientific research and knowledge throughout all nutritional and regulatory topics related to BENEO ingredients. It provides BENEO customers and partners with substantiated guidance for some of the most critical questions in the food and feed industry, as well as public health. BENEO, a division of the Südzucker Group, employs more than 1,200 people, and has production units in Belgium, Chile, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
[1] Metabolic syndrome refers to a combination of risk factors – including impaired blood glucose regulation, high blood pressure, elevated blood lipids, low HDL cholesterol, and abdominal obesity – that together increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Zhang J. et al (2025). Gut Hormones and Postprandial Metabolic Effects of Isomaltulose vs. Saccharose Consumption in People with Metabolic Syndrome. Nutrients, 17(15), 2539. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152539
[ii] Pigeot I, Ahrens W (2025) Epidemiology of metabolic syndrome. Pflügers Arch – Eur J Physiol 477:669–680. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00424-024-03051-7
[iii] The abstract of the systematic review is expected to be published in early 2026 in a special edition of the Journal of Nutritional Science about the 2025 International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) International Congress of Nutrition (ICN).