Abstract
Recent studies of nonhuman primates have shown that the amount and type of dietary carbohydrate influences the development of atherosclerotic lesions. In an effort to examine the gastrointestinal handling of simple and complex carbohydrates, measurements of gastric emptying times and uptake of C^14^ labeled carbohydrates were made for six female Macaca mulatta.
A significantly smaller volume of sucrose solutions remained in the stomach after 60 minutes than solutions containing an equal amount by weight of dextrin. Similarly, when solutions of equal osmotic pressures but unequal weights of sucrose and dextrin were used, a significantly smaller volume of the sucrose solution remained in the stomach after 60 minutes. These findings are consistent with the idea that breakdown of dextrin by pancreatic amylase results in an increase in osmotic pressure of the intestinal contents and a slowing of gastric emptying. No significant differences in the levels of glucose or total C^14^ labeled carbohydrates were found in the peripheral blood following ingestion of C^14^ labeled sucrose or dextrin. This finding suggests that although an initial difference in the rate of gastric emptying of these carbohydrates exists, other factors, such as the rate of production and activity of pancreatic amylase, activity of intestinal disaccharidases, and intestinal mucosal transport, tend to equalize the rate of absorption of these sugars.