Postprandial glucose, insulin, and lipid responses to four meals containing unpurified dietary fiber in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), hypertriglyceridemic subjects.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of two levels of total dietary fiber (10 g vs. 20 g) and two soluble:insoluble fiber ratios (1:4 vs. 2:3) on postprandial glucose and lipid metabolism in hypertriglyceridemic subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

METHODS

Eight NIDDM, mildly hypertriglyceridemic subjects consumed four test breakfasts, each containing variable proportions of the same cereal and fruit fiber sources. Blood samples were obtained during the 4 hours following the test meals and analyzed for glucose, insulin, triglyceride, total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol.

RESULTS

The incremental area under the curve for glucose and insulin was lowered after consuming 20 g as compared to 10 g of dietary fiber (p < 0.05), but was not affected by the soluble insoluble fiber ratio. The postprandial lipemia was similar after all test meals.

CONCLUSION

The proportion of soluble to insoluble fiber in cereal and fruit does not necessarily predict the effect of fiber on the glycemic response, while the overall quantity of fiber does appear to affect postprandial glucose metabolism in NIDDM.