All bran vs corn flakes: plasma glucose and insulin responses in young females

Abstract

Plasma glucose and insulin responses to breakfasts containing all bran or corn flakes were determined in 11 normal female volunteers aged 21-27 y. The test meals provided 50 g egg, 133 g orange juice, 129 g 2% milk, 180 g coffee, 5 g margarine, and 30 g available carbohydrate from either all bran or corn flakes with 19 g or 1 g of dietary fiber, respectively. Plasma glucose and insulin responses were higher for the corn flake breakfast and the incremental area under the glucose curve was 40% greater than that for the all bran breakfast (t test, p less than 0.05). These results are consistent with the reported glycemic indices for these cereals when consumed alone but the glucose responses differ to a lesser degree when the cereals are ingested with other foods. Thus, in this group of well-defined subjects the effect of all bran and corn flakes on plasma glucose responses is attenuated when these cereals are incorporated into mixed meals.