Lower Glycemic Load May Help With Memory, Mood in Mature Adults

Previous studies have shown that meals with a lower glycemic load (GL) can improve cognition and mood in young people. Expanding on that line of study, a recent investigation has found that meals containing isomaltulose may improve mood and memory in people over 45.

Participants in the study included 155 adults between the ages of 45 and 80. They were given a meal containing 40 grams of glucose, sucrose, or isomaltulose. Isomaltulose is a low glycemic carbohydrate that provides long energy release in the form of glucose.

The researchers assessed mood and cognitive performance at 30, 105, and 195 minutes after breakfast. They found that the participants with good glucose tolerance had a better mood after the lower GL meal when compared with the higher GL meal.

The isomltulose group with good glucose tolerance also performed better in mood and memory than the other two groups, even long after the meal had been consumed and blood glucose levels were dropping.

The researchers believe that the mood and memory benefits seen here can be attributed to the slow, sustained and balanced absorption that is associated with isomaltulose.

Researchers from Swansea University conducted the study. It was published online ahead of print on May 16, 2014, in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism.

Isomaltulose is viewed as being a healthier form of sugar because of its slow release into the system, which results in lower and slower increases in blood glucose. It has been credited with aiding in weight loss as well as management of blood sugar levels. It is most commonly used as a sugar substitute but can also be taken in supplement form.