ARE THE BENEFICIAL METABOLIC EFFECTS OF FIBER ENRICHED FOODS PRESERVED WHEN CONSUMED WITHIN A COMPOSITE MEAL

: The aim of this study was to compare, in patients with non-insulin d ependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) the postprandial plasma glucose res ponse of a carbohydrate-rich food additioned with a viscous fibre, eit her consumed alone or as part of a composite meal. We performed two ex periments in two groups of diabetic patients. In the first experiment 8 NIDDM patients consumed, in random order and on alternate days, eith er 55 g biscuits (carbohydrate 57%, fat 35%, protein 8%, kcal 174) con taining 5 g of viscous fibre (glucomannan) or 50 g biscuits without fi bre, In the second experiment 12 NIDDM patients consumed, in random or der and on alternate days, either 55 g biscuits enriched with glucoman nan or 50 g plain biscuits added to a mixed meal (carbohydrate 50%, fa t 29%, protein 21%,fibre 3 g, kcal 627), In the first experiment incre mental areas under the 180-min curve were significantly lower for both plasma glucose and insulin after glucomannan biscuits than after plai n biscuits (p < 0.02) while in the second experiment the meal rich in glucomannan biscuits stimulated a similar postprandial glycaemic respo nse but a lower plasma insulin response (p < 0.008) than the meal with plain biscuits. The capability of fibre added to foods to reduce the postprandial blood glucose response in diabetic patients is lost when fibre-enriched foods are consumed within a mixed meal. Diab. Nutr. Met ab. 11: 130-135, 1998. (C) 1998, Editrice Kurtis.