Soluble corn fibre shows benefits for glucose response in Asian population – Tate & Lyle study
Dietary fibres have been explored as an ingredient to regulate blood glucose response, a key factor in the management of type 2 diabetes. However, until now, SCF had been only studied on the Western Caucasian populations.
According to the Asian Diabetes Prevention Initiative, Asians are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, compared with people of European ancestry.
The study was conducted by researchers at Tate & Lyle, National University of Singapore and Agency for Science, Technology and Research and published in the journal Nutrients.
Study design
Researcher recruited 22 healthy Chinese males aged between 21 to 60 years. They had a fasting blood glucose of less than 6 mmol/L and BMI between 18.5 to 30 kg/m2.
The night before each test, participants were given a standard test dinner and cookies. Following an overnight fast, participants were served a glucose beverage and a test meal (rice or drink) containing either SCF or maltodextrin.
Its SCF is trademarked as Promitor.
Blood samples were collected at 0 (baseline), 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 minutes.
Findings
The study found that the Promitor group had significantly lower incremental area under the curve values of glucose (iAUGC) (p<0.05) and insulin (iAUIC) (p<0.001) compared to maltodextrin group.
The maltodextrin beverage had a significantly increase in postprandial glycaemic response by 20% and insulin secretion by 40% compared to the Promitor beverage (p<0.001).
These findings suggest that Promitor was beneficial in regulating blood glucose response compared to maltodextrin.
Kavita Karnik, vice president of nutrition and open Innovation at Tate & Lyle said: “This study shows the beneficial effect Promitor can have on blood glucose response in the Singaporean population when incorporated into both solid and liquid foods.”
Food reformulation
One of the biggest challenges in healthier food reformulation is maintaining great taste, with Karnik adding that wholegrain alternatives may not always be accepted among Asian consumers.
“A number of staple foods in traditional South East Asian diets such as rice have a high GI and consumer acceptance might be low for wholegrain options,” Karnik told NutraIngredients-Asia.
“Taste is still one of the main determinants of food choices. So, to encourage consumers to choose foods that are lower in GI and reap the long-term benefits, it is essential that these foods still taste great.”
“In light of the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the region, Promitor provides a unique opportunity to make tasty products healthier by not only facilitating sugar and calorie reduction but also helping to optimise blood glucose levels in consumers with higher risk of type 2 diabetes.”
She added that Promitor was suitable for consumers following the FODMAP diet (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols).
One limitation of the study was its short-term benefits. Researchers explained as an acute study, only the immediate glycaemic response was analysed after consuming the meals. They recommended a long-term trial to be conducted to study the long-term benefits of consuming the treatment meals.
Also, dietary fibres when consumed in excess may cause bloating, pain or diarrhoea in some individuals. However, Karnik pointed out: “A wealth of human studies, conducted in participants of various age groups, both genders and across multiple regions, have confirmed a very high tolerance of Promitor. People can consume as much as 65g per day without gastric discomfort.”
Karnik added that the company was focused on building the scientific evidence supporting the health impacts of Promitor beyond blood glucose including “gut health, metabolic health, bone health as well as satiety and weight management.@
Source: Nutrients
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12040961
“The Role of Soluble Corn Fiber on Glycemic and Insulin Response”
Authors: Wei Shuan Kimberly Tan, et al.
