Abstract
Background/ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of dried fruit in modifying postprandial glycemia, we assessed the ability of 4 dried fruits (dates, apricots, raisins, sultanas) to decrease postprandial glycemia through three mechanisms: a glycemic index (GI) effect, displacement effect, or ‘catalytic’ fructose effect.Subjects/MethodsWe conducted an acute randomized, multiple-crossover trial in an outpatient setting in 10 healthy adults. Participants received 3 white bread control meals and 12 dried fruit test meals in random order. The test meals included each of 4 dried fruits (dates, apricots, raisins, sultanas) alone (GI effect), 4 of the dried fruits displacing half the available carbohydrate in white bread (displacement effect), or 4 of the dried fruits providing a small ‘catalytic’ dose (7.5 g) of fructose added to white bread (‘catalytic’ fructose effect). The protocol followed the ISO method for the determination of GI (ISO 26642:2010). The primary outcome was mean ± SEM GI (glucose scale) for ease of comparison across the three mechanisms.ResultsTen healthy participants (7 men, 3 women; mean ± SD age and BMI: 39 ± 12 years and 25 ± 2 kg/m2) were recruited and completed the trial. All dried fruit had a GI below that of white bread (GI = 71); however, only dried apricots (GI = 42 ± 5), raisins (GI = 55 ± 5), and sultanas (51 ± 4) showed a significant GI effect (P < 0.05). When displacing half the available carbohydrate in white bread, all dried fruit lowered the GI; however, only dried apricots (GI = 57 ± 5) showed a significant displacement effect (P = 0.025). None of the dried fruits showed a beneficial ‘catalytic’ fructose effect.ConclusionsIn conclusion, dried fruits have a lower GI and reduce the glycemic response of white bread through displacement of half of the available carbohydrate. Longer-term randomized trials are needed to confirm whether dried fruit can contribute to sustainable improvements in glycemic control.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT02960373
Highlights
Dried fruits show promising potential for blood glucose management
Longer-term randomized trials are needed to confirm whether dried fruit can contribute to sustainable improvements in glycemic control
The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Western Institutional Review Board® which meets all the requirements of the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Canadian Health Protection Branch (HPB), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the European Community Guidelines
Summary
Dried fruits show promising potential for blood glucose management. Previous trials conducted in individuals with and without diabetes have shown dried fruits (including dates, apricots, raisins, and sultanas) to have a Current research suggests that combining dried fruits with high GI foods by displacing available carbohydrate may benefit postprandial glycemia in comparison to highGI foods alone. Infusion studies in humans have shown that this mechanism relates to a ~3-fold increase in glycogen synthesis under euglycemic conditions in healthy individuals[18] and a ~30% decrease in hepatic glucose output under hyperglycemic conditions in individuals with type 2 diabetes[19]. Clinical translation of these findings have shown ‘catalytic’ doses of fructose at 7.5 and 10 g to decrease postprandial glycemic responses to oral glucose or high GI meals (e.g., mashed potatoes) by ~15–30% in healthy individuals[20,21] and those with diabetes[22]
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