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Postprandial hyperglycemia and insulin response are affected by sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides ssp. turkestanica) berry and its ethanol-soluble metabolites

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Repeated postprandial hyperglycemia and subsequent mild, late hypoglycemia as well as high postprandial insulin response lead to metabolic events that may eventually develop into type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess how sea buckthorn berries as well as two sea buckthorn extraction residues modulate the postprandial metabolism after a high-glucose meal.

Subjects/Methods:

Ten healthy normal-weight male volunteers consumed four study breakfasts, one control (A) and three sea buckthorn meals on four distinct study days. All the meals contained yoghurt and glucose (50 g). The sea buckthorn ingredients used were dried and crushed whole berries (meal B1), supercritical fluid (SF)-carbon dioxide (CO2)-extracted oil-free berries (meal B2) or ethanol-extracted SF-CO2-extraction residue (meal B3). Blood samples for glucose, insulin and tumor necrosis factor-α analyses were collected before and during the 6-h study period.

Results:

Meal B1 suppressed the postprandial peak insulin response when compared with meal A (Δconcentration of 30-min peak value −21.8 mU/l, P=0.039), and stabilized postprandial hyperglycemia and subsequent hypoglycemia (Δconcentration of 30-min peak value—120-min value −30.4 mU/l, P=0.036). Furthermore, meal B2 resulted in a more stable insulin response than the control meal (Δconcentration of 30-min peak value—120-min value −25.9 mU/l, P=0.037).

Conclusions:

Removal of the CO2-soluble oil component from the berries did not show a significant change in the studied postprandial effects of the berries. The EtOH soluble components, again showed advantageous properties in both insulin and glucose responses.

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Acknowledgements

The study was performed as part of LUMABS-project funded by ABS graduate school, Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation (ETL), Turku University Foundation and Raisio Oyj Reseach Foundation. We thank Katja Tanner, Hannele Jokioinen, Jie Zheng, Salla Palmu and Eveliina Upmeier for skilful technical assistance, the group of Mika Venojärvi from Turku University of Applied Sciences for carrying out the TNF-α analyses, and Aromtech Ltd for providing the SC-CO2-extraction. This study was supported by ABS graduate school, Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation (ETL), Turku University Foundation and Raisio Oyj Reseach Foundation.

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Correspondence to H-M Lehtonen.

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Author Contributions: H-M Lehtonen, R Järvinen, M Viitanen, H Alanko and H Kallio designed research, H-M Lehtonen, R Järvinen and K Linderborg conducted research, H-M Lehtonen performed statistical analysis, H-M Lehtonen, R Järvinen, M Viitanen, K Linderborg and H Kallio wrote paper, and H-M Lehtonen had primary responsibility for final content. All authors read and approved the final paper.

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Lehtonen, HM., Järvinen, R., Linderborg, K. et al. Postprandial hyperglycemia and insulin response are affected by sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides ssp. turkestanica) berry and its ethanol-soluble metabolites. Eur J Clin Nutr 64, 1465–1471 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.173

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