NO IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES IN GLYCEMIC RESPONSES TO COMMON FRUITS IN TYPE-2 DIABETIC-PATIENTS

The aim of this study was to determine the glycaemic indices (GIs), pe ak incremental indices (PI), and time of peak increment (TPI) of eight kinds of fruits and their relationship with the type and amount of si mple sugars directly assayed in the fruits. Sixty-one type 2 diabetic patients randomized into eight groups-one for each category of fruit-p articipated in the study. GIs consisted of the following: pears = 60 /- 4.9; apples = 63 +/- 8.3; oranges = 68 +/- 6.5; grapes = 70 +/- 7.5 ; plums = 75 +/- 8.4; peaches = 80 +/- 7.4; apricots = 82 +/- 9.1; ban anas = 83 +/- 8.5. The PI values (mmol I-1) were the following: grapes 2.52 +/- 0.26; apples = 3.13 +/- 0.75; pears = 3.48 +/- 0.55; oranges = 4.02 +/- 0.42; peaches = 4.07 +/- 0.38; apricots = 4.08 +/- 0.47; p lums = 4.2 +/- 0.45; bananas = 4.45 +/- 0.39. There was no statistical differences in GI, and PI, within the different fruits. TPI of grapes (43.3 +/- 5.2 min), oranges (45 +/- 5.6 min), and peaches 145 +/- 5.6 min) were statistical different (p < 0.01) in respect to apricots (81 .4 +/- 5.5 min). Gls were positively correlated with total glucose con tained in the fruits (p < 0.05) and with PI (p < 0.0002); negatively w ith fructose both free (p < 0.02) and total (sum of free and present i n sucrose (p < 0.05). On the basis of these findings, there is unlikel y to be a difference of biological importance related to GI and PI of fruits, whereas the significance of TPI remains still to be evaluated.