The insulinotropic and incretin response to feeding a milk based protein matrix in healthy young women

Independent of glucose, ingestion of protein evokes an insulinotropic response due to enterogastric incretin hormones and hyperaminoacidemia. The aim of this study was to characterise insulin and incretin secretion in healthy young women (age 22.0 ± 1.2 y, n = 8) following acute ingestion of a milk based protein matrix (MPM) containing casein, whey protein and whey protein hydrolysates with in vitro dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory activity. Following ingestion of 0.33 g protein/kg body mass, plasma insulin, glucose, glucagon, total glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), DPP-IV activity and amino acids were measured over a 3 h period. These biomarkers were also determined following ingestion of an isocaloric maltodextrin drink (MALT) in order to estimate the equivalent glucose dependent response. Ingestion of MPM evoked ~50% of the insulin response obtained with MALT without hyperglycaemia. Time-dependent changes in plasma GIP, GLP-1 and amino acid levels indicated these factors were probably regulators of insulin secretion on MPM ingestion