No observable differences in glycemic response to maltitol in human subjects from 3 ethnically diverse groups

Glycaemic Index of Gluten-Free Biscuits with Resistant Starch and Sucrose Replacers: An In Vivo and In Vitro Comparative Study

The glycaemic index (GI) is used to demonstrate the tendency of foods to increase blood glucose and is thus an important characteristic of newly formulated foods to tackle the rising prevalence of diabetics and associated diseases. The GI of gluten-free biscuits formulated with alternate flours, resistant starch and sucrose replacers was determined using in vivo methods with human subjects. The relationship between in vivo GI values and the predicted glycaemic index (pGI) from the in vitro digestibility-based protocols, generally used by researchers, was established. The in vivo data showed a gradual reduction in GI with increased levels of sucrose substitution by maltitol and inulin with biscuits where sucrose was fully replaced, showing the lowest GI of 33. The correlation between the GI and pGI was food formulation-dependent, even though GI values were lower than the reported pGI. Applying a correction factor to pGI tend to close the gap between the GI and pGI for some formulations but also causes an underestimation of GI for other samples. The results thus suggest that it may not be appropriate to use pGI data to classify food products according to their GI.

A Systematic Review of Literature on the Representation of Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups in Clinical Nutrition Interventions

The racial and ethnic disparities in diet-related chronic diseases are major concerns. This systematic review examines the extent to which diet-induced changes in health outcomes, such as cardiometabolic, inflammation, cancer, bone health, and kidney function outcomes, etc., have been reported and discussed by race or ethnicity in randomized trials with 2 or more diet arms that recruited both minority and non-Hispanic White groups. Databases (i.e., PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) were searched up to August 2021. Thirty-four studies that discussed effects of defined dietary interventions on health outcomes by racial or ethnic minority group compared with non-Hispanic Whites were included in the systematic review (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021229256). Acute trials and those with 1 diet arm that accounted for race or ethnicity in their analyses and studies that focused on a single racial or ethnic group were discussed separately. Most studies were conducted in Black compared with White adults testing effects of energy restriction, macronutrient modification, sodium reduction, or variations of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet on cardiometabolic outcomes. There was limited focus on other minority groups. Evidence suggests greater blood pressure reduction for Black adults compared with Whites particularly with DASH (or similar) diets. Overall, there was limited consideration for group-specific eating patterns and diet acceptability. Overall risk of bias was low. With emerging precision nutrition initiatives that aim to optimize metabolic responses in population subgroups through tailored approaches, it is imperative to ensure adequate representation of racial and ethnic subgroups for addressing health disparities. Factors that help explain variability in responses such as socioecological context should be included and adequately powered. Given the racial and ethnic disparities in chronic diseases, studying the adoption, maintenance, and effectiveness of dietary interventions on health outcomes among different groups is critical for developing approaches that can mitigate diet-related health disparities.

Glycaemia and phosphatemia after oral glucose and maltitol ingestion in subjects from two different race groups: preliminary evidence of inter-race differences in metabolism and possible implications for urinary stone disease

PURPOSE

Glucose (Glu) and maltitol (Mal) ingestion affect calciuria and phosphaturia. Renal phosphate leak involving hypophosphatemia is thought to be a mechanism. Inter-race differences in carbohydrate metabolism are known. We investigated the effects of Glu and Mal ingestion on glycaemia and phosphatemia in subjects from two race groups to better understand potential implications for nephrolithiasis.

METHODS

Healthy black (B) (n = 8) and white (W) (n = 8) males followed a self-selected standardized diet for 7 days and a strictly controlled standardized diet on Day 8. After an overnight fast, subjects provided blood samples prior to and 30 min after ingestion of a randomly assigned solution of Glu or Mal. Blood Glu and serum phosphate were measured. Protocols were swapped after a 1-week washout period.

RESULTS

Following Glu ingestion, glycaemia increased significantly in W (4.8 vs 6.2 mmol/l) but not in B (4.7 vs 5.3 mmol/l) while phosphatemia decreased significantly in B (1.16 vs 1.01 mmol/l) but not in W (1.24 vs 1.15 mmol/l). After Mal ingestion, glycaemia increased significantly in B (4.7 vs 5.2 mmol/l) but not in W (4.6 vs 5.9 mmol/l), while phosphatemia decreased significantly in W (1.24 vs 1.18 mmol/l) but not in B (1.17 vs 1.06 mmol/l).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that enzymes which regulate glycolysis may be less active in B than in W, or expression of renal transcellular Glu transporters may be relatively inhibited in B. Effects on phosphatemia are carbohydrate- and race-dependent, thereby prohibiting speculation of a general algorithm linking these variables. Inter-race differences in metabolic handling of carbohydrates might impact on respective nephrolithiasis risk factors in such groups.

Evaluation of a high nutritional quality snack based on oat flakes and inulin: effects on postprandial glucose, insulin and ghrelin responses of healthy subjects

A low GI snack with satiety promoting effects.

Evaluation of a high nutritional quality snack based on oat flakes and inulin: effects on postprandial glucose, insulin and ghrelin responses of healthy subjects

A low GI snack with satiety promoting effects.

Evaluation of a high nutritional quality snack based on oat flakes and inulin: effects on postprandial glucose, insulin and ghrelin responses of healthy subjects

A low GI snack with satiety promoting effects.

Evaluation of a high nutritional quality snack based on oat flakes and inulin: effects on postprandial glucose, insulin and ghrelin responses of healthy subjects

A low GI snack with satiety promoting effects.

Evaluation of a high nutritional quality snack based on oat flakes and inulin: effects on postprandial glucose, insulin and ghrelin responses of healthy subjects

A low GI snack with satiety promoting effects.

Evaluation of a high nutritional quality snack based on oat flakes and inulin: effects on postprandial glucose, insulin and ghrelin responses of healthy subjects

A low GI snack with satiety promoting effects.

Evaluation of a high nutritional quality snack based on oat flakes and inulin: effects on postprandial glucose, insulin and ghrelin responses of healthy subjects

A low GI snack with satiety promoting effects.

Evaluation of a high nutritional quality snack based on oat flakes and inulin: effects on postprandial glucose, insulin and ghrelin responses of healthy subjects

A low GI snack with satiety promoting effects.

Evaluation of a high nutritional quality snack based on oat flakes and inulin: effects on postprandial glucose, insulin and ghrelin responses of healthy subjects

A low GI snack with satiety promoting effects.

Evaluation of a high nutritional quality snack based on oat flakes and inulin: effects on postprandial glucose, insulin and ghrelin responses of healthy subjects

A low GI snack with satiety promoting effects.

Evaluation of a high nutritional quality snack based on oat flakes and inulin: effects on postprandial glucose, insulin and ghrelin responses of healthy subjects

A low GI snack with satiety promoting effects.

Effect of ethnicity on glycaemic index: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives:

Low glycaemic index (GI) foods are recommended to improve glycaemic control in diabetes; however, Health Canada considers that GI food labeling would be misleading and unhelpful, in part, because selected studies suggest that GI values are inaccurate due to an effect of ethnicity. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the GI of foods when measured in Caucasians versus non-Caucasians.

Methods:

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases for relevant articles. GI differences were aggregated using the generic inverse variance method (random effects model) and expressed as mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Study quality was assessed based on how well studies complied with official international GI methodology.

Results:

Review of 1288 trials revealed eight eligible studies, including 28 comparisons of GI among 585 non-Caucasians and 971 Caucasians. Overall, there was borderline significant evidence of higher GI in non-Caucasians than Caucasians (MD, 3.3 (95% CI, −0.1, 6.8); P=0.06) with significant heterogeneity (I², 46% P=0.005). The GI of eight types of rice was higher in non-Caucasians than Caucasians (MD, 9.5 (95% CI, 3.7, 23.1); P=0.001), but there was no significant difference for the other 20 foods (MD, 1.0 (95% CI, −2.5, 4.6); P=0.57). MD was significantly greater in the four low-quality studies (nine comparisons) than the four high-quality studies (19 comparisons; 7.8 vs 0.7, P=0.047).

Conclusions:

With the possible exception of rice, existing evidence suggests that GI values do not differ when measured in Caucasians versus non-Caucasians. To confirm these findings high-quality studies using a wide range of foods are required.