High-fiber foods at breakfast: influence on plasma glucose and insulin responses to lunch.

This study evaluates acute effects of red kidney bean consumption on postprandial glucose and insulin responses in six healthy young men. Comparisons were made among three mixed-food breakfast meals comprised predominantly of either red kidney beans, bran cereal, or white bread. These meals provided equivalent levels of digestible carbohydrate, protein, and fat. The bean and bran meals contained equivalent levels of fiber while the white-bread meal contained a lower level. The postprandial glucose and insulin responses to the three meals were similar and responses also were similar after a standard whole-wheat-bread meal 4 h later. There appeared to be a reciprocal relationship between glucose and insulin responses after the lunch meal. This would influence interpretation of data regarding second-meal response.