Nutritional Composition for Steady Glucose Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Athletes face challenges in maintaining optimal muscle glycogen levels during physical activity due to insulin spikes from carbohydrate ingestion, leading to rapid glycogen depletion and fatigue, as existing methods fail to provide a steady glucose supply while avoiding insulin inhibition.
Innovation Solution
A nutritional composition combining fast and slow absorbing carbohydrates with insulinomimetic compounds, such as methylhydroxychalcone polymers and vanadium oxoanions, to promote steady glucose release and absorption, offsetting insulin spikes and enhancing glycogen conservation and resynthesis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If carbohydrates are ingested before exercise, then glycogen stores are replenished, but insulin spikes occur causing rapid glycogen depletion and fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The carbohydrate source is segmented into multiple components with different absorption rates (fast-absorbing carbohydrates like dextrose and slow-absorbing carbohydrates like maltodextrin and inulin). This segmentation allows the glycogen replenishment process to be divided into phases, providing sustained energy release rather than a single spike, thereby extending the duration of energy availability during exercise.
Solution Approach 2:
The composition employs periodic release of glucose through the combination of fast and slow absorbing carbohydrates. The fast-absorbing components provide initial energy while the slow-absorbing components maintain steady release over time, creating a periodic action pattern that sustains glycogen levels without causing insulinal spikes that would lead to rapid depletion.
2Productivity
If insulinomimetic compounds are used to promote glucose uptake, then glycogen synthesis is enhanced, but insulin spikes may still occur causing fatty acid mobilization inhibition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces insulinomimetic compounds as intermediary substances that mimic insulin's effect on glucose uptake without causing the same harmful spike effects. These intermediaries facilitate glucose transport into muscle cells and promote glycogen synthesis while avoiding the excessive insulin response that would inhibit fatty acid mobilization and cause rapid glycogen depletion.
Solution Approach 2:
The composition modifies the pharmacological parameters by using insulinomimetic compounds with different activity profiles than natural insulin. These compounds provide sustained glucose uptake promotion without the rapid peak effects, changing the temporal and intensity parameters of insulin action to achieve glycogen synthesis enhancement without the harmful side effects of insulin spikes.
3Speed
If fast-absorbing carbohydrates are used, then glucose availability is rapid, but glycogen depletion accelerates due to insulin response
Solution Approach 1:
The carbohydrate source is segmented into fast-absorbing (dextrose) and slow-absorbing (maltodextrin, inulin) components. The fast-absorbing segment provides rapid initial glucose availability to meet immediate energy demands, while the slow-absorbing segment provides sustained release that prevents rapid glycogen depletion by avoiding large insulin spikes.
Solution Approach 2:
The combination of fast and slow absorbing carbohydrates ensures continuous glucose availability throughout the exercise period. The fast-absorbing component acts initially while the slow-absorbing component maintains continuous supply, creating uninterrupted glucose availability that sustains glycogen levels without the rapid depletion caused by insulin responses to single-timepoint carbohydrate ingestion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition provides a sustained energy supply, delaying glycogen depletion, improving endurance, strength, and recovery by maintaining stable blood glucose levels and minimizing insulin spikes, thereby enhancing athletic performance.
Implementation Method 1
provides a steady supply of glucose to the blood stream... fast and slow absorbing carbohydrates... moderate to fast absorbing carbohydrates such as, but not limited to, amylopectin, dextran, and/or maltodextrin, slow absorbing carbohydrates including, but not limited to, isomaltulose and/or inulin
Implementation Method 2
one or more insulinomimetic compounds such as, for example, methylhydroxychalcone polymers, vanadium oxoanions and complexes, and corosolic acid... promotion of muscle performance via oral ingestion of a nutritional composition including selected carbohydrates to promote steady release of glucose into the blood stream coupled with an agent to promote steady transport of glucose into muscle tissue
Implementation Method 3
regulation of insulin dependent pathways can be affected to promote increased glycogen conservation, resynthesis, and/or storage... stimulation of muscle glycogen synthesis (glycogenesis)... defects in glycogen synthase activity
Implementation Method 4
glycogen is broken down into glucose-6-phosphate and, ultimately, glucose by a separate pathway known glycogenolysis... As blood glucose levels fall glucagon secretion by the pancreas increases stimulating the break down of glycogen into glucose (glycogenolysis)
Data Source
AI summary
A method for regulating glucose release, promoting glycogen conservation, and/or glycogen synthesis includes orally administering an effective amount of a nutritional composition comprising fast and slow absorbing carbohydrates in combination with an insulinomimetic compound to provide a steady release of glucose from the gastrointestinal tract.