Effects of Liquid Formula on Plasma Glucose, Insulin, and Ghrelin Levels in Healthy Humans with Mixed Meal Tests

Abstract

Diet modulation is an important component of the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Glucerna SR is a complete nutritional product containing carbohydrates of low glycemic response with monounsaturated fats composing 24% of the total energy. The aim of this study was to examine the postprandial responses of plasma glucose, insulin, and ghrelin in a mixed meal test (MMT) of Glucerna SR and an ordinary meal (sandwich) in healthy human subjects. Twenty-one healthy human subjects, with a mean age of 24.0 ± 0.9 years were recruited. Anti-human ghrelin antibodies, YJC 1-19, were produced in rabbits by means of keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugation. Steamed buns, sandwiches, and Glucerna SR were ingested over 3 separate days after fasting overnight. Blood was drawn either at 30 min or serially at 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min after meals as part of the MMT, and plasma glucose, insulin, and ghrelin were assayed. The results revealed that anti-serum YJC 1-19 was highly sensitive and specific to human ghrelin, and plasma ghrelin concentration was a proper indicator of hunger or satiety. At the 30 min point, sandwich ingestion resulted in the highest elevation of glucose and insulin, while steamed bun ingestion resulted in the least suppression of ghrelin. The MMT revealed that Glucerna SR ingestion resulted in lower glucose and insulin responses but similar ghrelin responses as compared to sandwich ingestion. In conclusion, the liquid formula of Glucerna SR induces a lower elevation of plasma glucose and insulin levels. The ingestion of Glucerna SR induces a similar decrease of plasma ghrelin levels, thus it does not trigger hunger sensations for 3 h.