Polycose Glucose Polymers - Powder - 12.3 oz cans

• For additional carbohydrate calories in protein-, electrolyte-, or fat-restricted diets
• Medical or surgical status prevents adequate intake of calories from a normal diet
• Gastrointestinal volume must be limited
• Renal solute load must be limited
• A diet with high caloric density is desirable
• Pancreatic insufficiency is present

• Rapid absorption (peak glucose response in 30 minutes)
• Longer glucose polymers reduce osmolality and minimize potential for osmotic diarrhea
• Low renal solute load
• Mixes readily with most foods and beverages
• Minimal sweetness to enhance patient acceptance
• Lactose- and gluten-free

To reconstitute POLYCOSE Powder into the same solution as liquid POLYCOSE: Put 56 g of POLYCOSE Powder (approximately 9 tablespoons) in a metric measuring cup. Add enough water to make 100 mL (approximately 66.4 mL), and stir well.

Because carbohydrate is efficiently digested and absorbed, it serves as an important fuel for the malnourished or severely ill patient.¹ Carbohydrate is an essential fuel for glycolytic organs or tissues, such as the brain and red blood cells. The specific protein-sparing action of ingested carbohydrate—presumably a result of decreased protein degradation and increased protein synthesis²—makes adequate carbohydrate intake particularly important for patients who require restriction of dietary proteins, such as patients with renal³ or hepatic diseases.

POLYCOSE essentially is pure carbohydrate prepared by controlled acid-enzyme hydrolysis of selected cornstarch. The average molecular weight of POLYCOSE Glucose Polymers is approximately 1000 daltons, about five times greater than the molecular weight of glucose (180 daltons). Because of the relatively high molecular weight, POLYCOSE solutions have relatively low osmolality, which lessens the potential for osmotic diarrhea. POLYCOSE consists mainly of linear chains of glucose molecules attached by a-1,4 glycosidic bonds, with a small amount of a-1,6 branching present.

POLYCOSE has been used in clinical trials to screen for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).^4,5 Similar partial hydrolysates of starch have been recognized for use in oral glucose tolerance testing by the World Health Organization.⁶ The usual protocol for the 1-hour GDM screening using a partial hydrolysate of starch is the provision of a 50-g oral glucose load administered between the 24th and 28th week of gestation.⁷ Clinical trials comparing carbohydrate-equivalent amounts of POLYCOSE and standard D-glucose solutions for GDM screening reveal a high degree of agreement between the screening agents.^4,5 POLYCOSE has one fifth of the osmotic pressure of glucose and appears to be better tolerated (in terms of gastric pain, bloating, nausea, and dizziness) than the standard D-glucose solutions for screening in GDM.^4,5

At low concentrations (solutions less than 10%), POLYCOSE empties from the stomach faster than equivalent solutions of pure glucose. Thus, calories are readily available for absorption. Studying 15 healthy volunteers (4 women and 11 men), Foster and associates⁸ compared the gastric emptying characteristics of 5%, 10%, 20%, and 40% solutions of glucose and POLYCOSE. For both glucose and POLYCOSE, the rate of gastric emptying decreased progressively with increasing solute concentration. However, the POLYCOSE solutions tended to empty faster than the glucose solutions at all concentrations. The 5% POLYCOSE solution emptied 33% faster than the 5% glucose solution, which is statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Additionally, the 5% POLYCOSE solution was associated with 47% less gastric secretion than the 5% glucose solution. As a result, gastric residue at 30 minutes was 41% less with the 5% POLYCOSE solution than with the 5% glucose solution (P < 0.05).

POLYCOSE is absorbed as rapidly as glucose. Foster ⁹ studied 20 healthy volunteers (10 men and 10 women) who randomly received 300 mL of a solution containing either 75 g of glucose or 75 g of POLYCOSE after an overnight fast. Neither glucose nor insulin curves differed significantly after the subjects drank the POLYCOSE or glucose solutions. Peak glucose and insulin responses occurred at 30 minutes.

Carbohydrate Profile

	Powder
Percent of total calories from carbohydrate	100
Carbohydrate source	Glucose polymers
Carbohydrate content	94 g/100 g

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Belko A, Rotter M, Roe DA: Glucose polymer effects on riboflavin and folic acid absorption (abstract). J Am Coll Nutr 1982;1:413.

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McArdle AH, Palmason C, Brown RA, et al: Protection from catabolism in major burns: A new formula for the immediate enteral feeding of burn patients. J Burn Care Rehabil 1983;4:245-250.

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Mochizuki H, Trocki O, Dominioni L, et al: Mechanism of prevention of postburn hypermetabolism and catabolism by early enteral feeding. Ann Surg 1984;200:297-310.

Reece EA, Holford T, Tuck S, et al: Screening for gestational diabetes: One-hour carbohydrate tolerance test performed by a virtually tasteless polymer of glucose. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1987;156:132-134.

Ruppin H, Bar-Meir S, Soergel KH, Wood CM: Effects of liquid formula diets on proximal gastrointestinal function. Dig Dis Sci 1981;26:202-207.

Saunders DR, Shaneyfelt S, Sillery J: Glucose polymer may enhance water absorption more than dextrose or sucrose in short bowel syndrome (abstract). Gastroenterology 1982;82:1170.

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Walker A: The use of glucose polymers as carbohydrate supplements in burn patients, in Current Approaches to Nutritional Therapy of the Hospitalized Patient, Proceedings of the Abbott-Ross Conference, Amelia Island, Fla, Nov 23, 1975, pp 93-95.

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Zheng J-J, Wood RJ, Rosenberg IH: Enhancement of calcium absorption in rats by coadministration of glucose polymer. Am J Clin Nutr 1985;41:243-245.

References