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Title: Galactose promotes fat mobilization in obese lactating and non-lactating women

Author
item MOHAMMAD, MAHMOUD - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item SUNEHAG, AGNETA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item RODRIGUEZ, LUISA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item HAYMOND, MOREY - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2009
Publication Date: 4/21/2009
Citation: Mohammad, M.A., Sunehag, A.L., Rodriguez, L.M., Haymond, M.W. 2009. Galactose promotes fat mobilization in obese lactating and non-lactating women. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 42:546.12

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Galactose consumption results in a lower rise in plasma glucose and insulin concentrations when compared to glucose. The lower insulin might promote lipolysis during meal absorption. An isocaloric galactose drink, when compared to glucose, will sustain fat mobilization during meal consumption while not adversely affecting milk production. Five healthy, obese (BMI 34.4+/-2.4), exclusively breastfeeding and 5 non-lactating (BMI 36.3+/-1.3) women were studied in a crossover, randomized, single blinded design. During 2d on both occasions, subjects received drinks providing 70% of the daily resting energy requirement (RMR) of which glucose or galactose provided 55% of RMR. Primary outcome variables were: rates of appearance (Ra) of glycerol, glucose, and palmitate; milk production; substrate and hormone concentrations; energy expenditure and substrate oxidation. In all subjects, during galactose, as compared to glucose feeding, plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide were lower (p<0.05), while FFA and glycerol were higher (p<0.01). Glucose Ra was 72% lower and glycerol and palmitate Ra were 39 and 53% higher (p<0.01) during galactose consumption. Glycerol Ra ( mico mol·kg-1·min-1) was higher during galactose than glucose feeding in both control (2.0+/-0.3 vs. 1.4+/-0.2, p<0.05) and lactating women (2.2+/-0.4 vs. 1.7+/-0.3, p<0.01). Milk production, energy expenditure, and substrate oxidation were similar between the two sugars. Consumption of galactose sustains fat mobilization during meal absorption. Thus, galactose might facilitate body fat loss in obese women.