Effects of Flavoured Probiotic Drinks on Glucose and Insulin Levels
Introduction: Understanding Blood Sugar Fluctuations
A recent study focusing on flavoured fruit and vegetable probiotic drinks has explored their impact on glucose and insulin levels. While we all appreciate good food, we are also aware of the consequences of poor dietary choices. Despite our best intentions, disruptions in our body’s rhythm can lead to uncontrolled fluctuations in sugar levels. Hyperglycemia, or elevated blood sugar, includes postprandial hyperglycemia, where glucose levels rise after eating. This condition can contribute to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and various cardiovascular diseases, posing significant challenges to global healthcare systems.
Can Fruit and Vegetable Polyphenols Influence Blood Sugar Levels?
With appropriate dietary adjustments and lifestyle changes, postprandial hyperglycemia may be managed effectively. The study conducted in Lund, Sweden, and published in the Nutrition Journal in 2018, examines how a polyphenol-rich probiotic drink can help regulate insulin and post-prandial glucose levels. Research indicates that fruits, vegetables, berries, tea, and coffee can enhance insulin responses and lower post-prandial blood glucose levels. The source, type, and dosage of polyphenols significantly affect these insulin responses and glucose levels.
Dietary polyphenols, a prominent category of foods, have demonstrated promising health benefits through five primary mechanisms:
1. Inhibition of carbohydrate digestion and glucose absorption.
2. Stimulation of insulin secretion.
3. Regulation of glucose output from the liver.
4. Activation of insulin receptors to facilitate glucose uptake.
5. Modulation of gene expression and intracellular pathways.
Study Design and Methodology
A randomized, controlled crossover study was implemented to assess insulin responses and post-prandial glucose levels after participants consumed five different probiotic fruit or vegetable drinks. The study involved 12 healthy young adults, comprising six men and women aged between 18 and 65 years, all with no known allergies or medications, stable body weight, and a body mass index ranging from 20 to 30 kg/m².
Conducted at Skane University Hospital in Lund, Sweden, the study lasted six weeks. Participants began with a standardized meal consisting of two slices of white bread and a small amount of water. A venous blood sample was collected before the consumption of the probiotic drinks, which were administered in a random order. Blood samples were then taken at 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90-minute intervals to monitor glucose and insulin levels. One participant withdrew for personal reasons, leaving 11 participants for the final analysis.
Findings: Polyphenols and Insulin Response
The research yielded several significant findings. The polyphenol-rich fruit and vegetable beverages containing bilberry, mango, rose hip, and black currant were found to reduce insulin response during the early postprandial period (0-90 minutes). Notably, bilberry exhibited the most pronounced effect on insulin levels, particularly at the 30-minute mark following consumption, with sustained significance.
Certain results align with previous studies, which noted that beverages containing bilberry, rosehip, mango, or black currant did not immediately impact glycemic response after eating but began to show effects up to 90 minutes later. The glycemic response refers to fluctuations in blood glucose levels after ingesting carbohydrate-containing foods. Lower insulin responses were closely associated with the polyphenol content, particularly in drinks with higher concentrations of rose hip and bilberry.
Conclusion
The findings from this study suggest that polyphenol-rich probiotic drinks may have beneficial effects on insulin response and glucose levels, potentially offering a dietary strategy for managing postprandial hyperglycemia.
Written by Sonia Leslie Fernandez, Medical News Writer
Reference: Xu, J., Jönsson, T., Plaza, M., Håkansson, Å., Antonsson, M., Ahrén, I. L., … & Granfeldt, Y. (2018). Probiotic fruit beverages with different polyphenol profiles attenuated early insulin response. Nutrition Journal, 17(1), 34.