Clin Nutr Res.  2020 Jan;9(1):43-51. 10.7762/cnr.2020.9.1.43.

Effect of High β-glucan Barley on Postprandial Blood Glucose and Insulin Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

• Fuse Y
• Higa M
• Miyashita
• Fujitani A
• Yamashita
• Ichijo T
• Aoe S
• Hirose T

• KMID: 2468663
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7762/cnr.2020.9.1.43

Abstract

The aim of our study was to investigate whether high β-glucan-containing barley (7.2 g per 100 g) improves postprandial plasma glucose levels and suppresses postprandial insulin levels during a meal tolerance test in type 2 diabetic patients. A meal tolerance test (500 kcal) was conducted using two types of test meals: a test meal with white rice (WR) alone (WR diet) and a test meal with WR mixed with 50% barley (BR diet) as staple food. The side dish was the same in the both meals. The changes in plasma glucose and serum C-peptide immunoreactivity (CPR) levels for 180 minutes after ingestion of the test meals were compared. Ten patients with type 2 diabetes (age 52.5 ± 15.1 years, and 7 males and 3 females) were included in this study. The mean HbA1c level and body mass index were 8.8 ± 1.4%, and 29.7 ± 4.5 kg/m², respectively. Plasma glucose levels after ingestion of the WR diet or BR diet peaked at 60 minutes, which showed no significant differences between the two types of test meals. However, the incremental area under the curve (IAUC) of plasma glucose levels after ingestion of BR diet was significantly lower than that of WR diet. The serum CPR levels at 180 min and their IAUC over 180 minutes after ingestion of BR diet were significantly lower than those of WR diet. Conclusion: Increase in postprandial plasma glucose and insulin levels was suppressed by mixing high-β-glucan barley with WR in type 2 diabetic patients.

Keyword

Diet therapy; Beta glucan; Barley; Postprandial hyperglycemia; Type 2 diabetes

MeSH Terms

Blood Glucose*
Body Mass Index
C-Peptide
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Diet
Diet Therapy
Eating
Hordeum*
Humans
Hyperglycemia
Insulin*
Male
Meals
Blood Glucose
C-Peptide
Insulin

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Changes in plasma glucose levels after the consumption of test meals with WR diet or BR diet. WR diet, white rice alone; BR diet, white rice mixed with 50% β-glucan rich barley.

• 

  Figure 2 The IAUC of plasma glucose over 180 minutes after the consumption of test meals with WR diet or BR diet. IAUC, incremental area under the curve; WR diet, white rice alone; BR diet, white rice mixed with 50% β-glucan rich barley.

• 

  Figure 3 The IAUC of serum C-peptide immunoreactivity over 180 minutes after the consumption of test meals with WR diet or BR diet. IAUC, incremental area under the curve; WR diet, white rice alone; BR diet, white rice mixed with 50% β-glucan rich barley.

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