Sugar beet fiber in formula diet reduces postprandial blood glucose, serum insulin and serum hydroxyproline

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of sugar beet fiber in formula diet on blood glucose, serum insulin and serum hydroxyproline in humans.

Design: Two formula test meals with and without 7 g of sugar beet fiber, namely 5.1 g total dietary fiber, were ingested on two mornings, in random order, by the subjects.

Setting: The test meals were served in a clinic to the subjects after a 12 h fast.

Subjects: Fifteen healthy male human volunteers (mean age 25 y, range 21–42) registered to participate in the study after an announcement.

Methods: The test meals of formulas contained similar amounts of nutrients and gave total energy of 1778 kJ (425 kcal). Blood samples were drawn before and after the test meals. The total test time from the start of ingestion of the meal was 155 min.

Results: The formula with sugar beet fiber reduced the postprandial blood glucose response (P<0.05), serum insulin response (P<0.025) and serum hydroxyproline response (P<0.025), compared with the formula without fiber.

Conclusion: Sugar beet fiber in a formula could thus reduce hyperglycemia in enteral nutrition and be useful in therapeutic liquid and formula diets. Sugar beet fiber was shown to tolerate preparation for canning well, namely homogenization and heating, and to be capable of diminishing the glycemic responses in the relatively small amount used.

Sponsorship: Swedish Council for Forestry and Agricultural Research (L24 and L39), the Icelandic Council of Science, and Semper AB, Sweden.