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Replacement of glycaemic carbohydrates by inulin-type fructans from chicory (oligofructose, inulin) reduces the postprandial blood glucose and insulin response to foods: report of two double-blind, randomized, controlled trials

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Abstract

Purpose

Inulin-type fructans are recognized as prebiotic dietary fibres and classified as non-digestible carbohydrates that do not contribute to glycaemia. The aim of the present studies was to investigate the glycaemic response (GR) and insulinaemic response (IR) to foods in which sucrose was partially replaced by inulin or oligofructose from chicory.

Methods

In a double-blind, randomized, controlled cross-over design, 40–42 healthy adults consumed a yogurt drink containing oligofructose or fruit jelly containing inulin and the respective full-sugar variants. Capillary blood glucose and insulin were measured in fasted participants and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after starting to drink/eat. For each test food, the incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for glucose and insulin was calculated and the GR and IR determined.

Results

Consumption of a yogurt drink with oligofructose which was 20% reduced in sugars significantly lowered the glycaemic response compared to the full-sugar reference (iAUC120min 31.9 and 37.3 mmol/L/min, respectively; p < 0.05). A fruit jelly made with inulin and containing 30% less sugars than the full-sugar variant likewise resulted in a significantly reduced blood glucose response (iAUC120min 53.7 and 63.7 mmol/L/min, respectively; p < 0.05). In both studies, the postprandial insulin response was lowered in parallel (p < 0.05). The reduction of postprandial glycaemia was positively correlated to the proportion of sugars replaced by inulin-type fructans (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

In conclusion, the studies confirmed that substitution of glycaemic sugars by inulin or oligofructose from chicory may be an effective strategy to reduce the postprandial blood glucose response to foods.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all participants for their time and effort. Furthermore, we would like to thank the product development department of CRDS Südzucker for the development and production of test samples (yogurt drinks, fruit jellies).

Author contribution statement

All authors were involved in the development of the study protocol. H. Lightowler and S. Thondre were responsible for data collection, data analysis, and interpretation of the data. A Holz and S Theis wrote the initial draft of the manuscript. All the authors read, commented upon, and made a significant contribution to the submitted manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Functional Food Centre, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane Campus, Headington, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK

    Helen Lightowler & Sangeetha Thondre

  2. BENEO-Institute, Wormser Straße 11, 67283, Obrigheim/Pfalz, Germany

    Anja Holz & Stephan Theis

Authors
  1. Helen Lightowler
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  2. Sangeetha Thondre
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  3. Anja Holz
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  4. Stephan Theis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Helen Lightowler.

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Conflict of interest

Both studies were funded by BENEO GmbH (a member of the Südzucker Group), Cosucra-Groupe Warcoing S.A. and Sensus B.V. The funding companies reserve the exclusive right to use the results and data for regulatory proceedings and health claim requests. The yogurt drinks and fruit jellies were specially developed for this study and produced by BENEO/CRDS Südzucker. A. Holz and S. Theis are employees of BENEO/Südzucker Group.

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Lightowler, H., Thondre, S., Holz, A. et al. Replacement of glycaemic carbohydrates by inulin-type fructans from chicory (oligofructose, inulin) reduces the postprandial blood glucose and insulin response to foods: report of two double-blind, randomized, controlled trials. Eur J Nutr 57, 1259–1268 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1409-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1409-z

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