Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #171996
Title: CONSUMPTION OF BOTH STARCH AND B-GLUCAN IMPROVES POSTPRANDIAL PLASMA GLUCOSE AND INSULIN

Author
item BEHALL, KAY
item SCHOLFIELD, DANIEL
item HALLFRISCH, JUDITH
item LILJEBERG-ELMSTAHL, HELENA - CCCE, LUND UNIV, SWEDEN

Submitted to: Diabetes Care
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/18/2006
Publication Date: 5/1/2006
Citation: Behall, K.M., Scholfield, D.J., Hallfrisch, J.G., Liljeberg-Elmstahl, H. 2006. Consumption of both starch and b-glucan improves postprandial plasma glucose and insulin. Diabetes Care. 29:976-981.

Interpretive Summary: Diabetes, obesity and the metabolic syndrome are major health problems in the United States. Consumption of soluble fiber has been reported to have beneficial health effects, especially the reduction of blood glucose and insulin after a meal containing the soluble fiber. Consumption of starches that resist digestion in the upper intestine also reduce blood glucose and insulin after a meal containing the resistant starch. The study was to determine whether the beneficial effects of soluble fiber and resistant starch on glucose and insulin are additive. Ten normal-weight and 10 overweight women were given 10 meals in random order. Meals included glucose alone and 9 muffins made with three levels of resistant starch (1.2, 4.7, and 8.5 g/100 g dry weight) and 3 levels of soluble fiber (0.34, 1.87, and 3.39 g/100 g dry weight). To maintain similar normal blood glucose levels, women who were overweight needed higher plasma insulin levels after the meals than the normal-weight subjects did. The amount of glucose and insulin found in blood after a meal decreased as the amount of resistant starch and beta-glucan increased. The greatest reduction in summed glucose and insulin (28% and 49%, respectively) occurred after meals containing the highest amounts of beta-glucan and resistant starch. Fasting leptin was higher (25.3 and 12.9 ng/ml) and thyroid stimulating hormone was lower (1.66 and 2.6 mU/L) in the overweight women than the normal-weight women. Soluble fiber appears to have a greater effect on glucose and insulin postprandial response than does resistant starch. The reduction in glycemic response was enhanced by combining resistant starch and soluble fiber. These results indicate that both soluble fiber and resistant starch are an effective addition to a healthy diet to lower blood glucose and insulin after a meal. This information is important to the general public and to health care workers planning diets for individuals with type 2 diabetes or the metabolic syndrome.

Technical Abstract: Consumption of a meal high in resistant starch (RS; from 70% amylose starch) or soluble fiber (beta-glucan from Oatrim) decreases peak insulin and glucose levels and area under the curve (AUC). The objective was to determine whether the effects of soluble fiber and RS on glycemic variables are additive. Ten normal-weight (averaging 61.6 kg, 43.5 y, and BMI 22.0) and 10 overweight women (averaging 81.7 kg, 43.3 y, and BMI 30.4) were given 10 tolerance tests in a Latin square design: glucose alone (1 g glucose/kg body weight) and 9 muffins (1 g carbohydrate/kg body weight) made with three levels of RS (1.2, 4.7, and 8.5 g/100 g dry weight) and 3 levels of soluble fiber (0.34, 1.87, and 3.39 g/100 g dry weight). A standard menu was fed for 3 d. Overweight subjects responded with plasma insulin levels higher than those of normal-weight subjects to maintain similar plasma glucose levels. Glucose and insulin responses decreased with increasing RS and beta-glucan content. The greatest AUC reduction occurred after meals containing high beta-glucan or high RS, 28% and 49% lower AUC for glucose and insulin, respectively with high beta-glucan and high RS. Fasting leptin was higher (25.3 and 12.9 ng/ml) and thyroid stimulating hormone was lower (1.66 and 2.6 mU/L) in the overweight women than the normal-weight women. Soluble fiber appears to have a greater effect on glucose and insulin postprandial response than does RS from high-amylose cornstarch. The reduction in glycemic response was enhanced by combining RS and soluble fiber.