Impact of postprandial glycaemia on health and prevention of disease

Abstract

Postprandial glucose, together with related hyperinsulinemia and lipidaemia, has been implicated in the development of chronic metabolic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this review, available evidence is discussed on postprandial glucose in relation to body weight control, the development of oxidative stress, T2DM, and CVD and in maintaining optimal exercise and cognitive performance. There is mechanistic evidence linking postprandial glycaemia or glycaemic variability to the development of these conditions or in the impairment in cognitive and exercise performance. Nevertheless, postprandial glycaemia is interrelated with many other (risk) factors as well as to fasting glucose. In many studies, meal-related glycaemic response is not sufficiently characterized, or the methodology with respect to the description of food or meal composition, or the duration of the measurement of postprandial glycaemia is limited. It is evident that more randomized controlled dietary intervention trials using effective low vs. high glucose response diets are necessary in order to draw more definite conclusions on the role of postprandial glycaemia in relation to health and disease. Also of importance is the evaluation of the potential role of the time course of postprandial glycaemia.

Berries and anthocyanins: promising functional food ingredients with postprandial glycaemia-lowering effects

“…High dietary glycaemic index and glycaemic load independently increases risk of T2D (3) (relative risk 1·4 and 1·3, respectively). Frequent elevated excursions in postprandial glucose concentrations are thought to increase risk of T2D and CVD by inducing oxidative stress and glycation of proteins, as reviewed by Blaak et al (4) . Studies with acarbose (an…”

Glycaemic Profile and Insulin Response after Consuming Triticale Flakes

“…Based on recent and our studies we might further hypothesise that a whole grain triticale cereal breakfast slows down acute insulin response, it might reduce depression of blood glucose below baseline levels (reactive hypoglycaemia) in the late postprandial phase and possibly has lower energy intake at subsequent meals compared to commercial grain breakfast with high II (Nilsson et al, 2008;Isaksson et al, 2011;Peters et al, 2011). There is some evidence that glucose kinetics affects this process little and that particularly the secretion of insulin in response to food intake, induces satiety (Flint et al, 2007;Blaak et al, 2012). Insulin can influence appetite by stimulating appetite centres in the brain, interacting with satiety gut peptides and modulating substrate oxidation in the liver (Flint et al, 2007).…”

“…Whatever the mechanisms involved, a lower postprandial plasma insulin response promotes a beneficial effect on human health outcomes (Blaak et al, 2012). Therefore, in recent years, nutritional research has focused on the identification of carbohydrate-rich foods that have a lower insulinemic index, such as rye and barley.…”

Impact of Diet Composition on Blood Glucose Regulation

“…However, the number of studies investigating the effects of DF on acute glucose and insulin responses in T2DM subjects is still limited which limits interpretation of the effects. Moreover, the relevance of acute postprandial effects needs to be studied with regard to long-term health outcome; in this context also insoluble dietary fiber seem to play an important role by improving glucose and/or insulin homeostasis (Blaak et al, 2012).…”

“…Additionally, poorly controlled diabetes is a major factor in several serious disorders including macrovascular disease, vision loss, renal failure, neuropathy, and amputations (Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group, 1993;Ohkubo et al, 1995;Haffner et al, 1998;Niskanen et al, 1998; UK Prospective Diabetes Study Group, 1998;Huxley et al, 2006). Nutritional management of blood glucose dysregulation is a strategic target, as there is mechanistic evidence to suggest that elevated blood glucose levels contribute toward development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (Blaak et al, 2012). Moreover, high blood glucose levels, including values that are below the cutoff for the diagnosis of diabetes, have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.…”