Abstract
Date fruits can be consumed at different stages of maturity and thus might vary in glycemic response. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the nutritional composition, glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) values of dried Bisr (mature unripe) and Tamr (mature ripe) dates. Fifteen healthy female participants (18 and 25 years), were recruited to assess the GI and GL values of dried Bisr and dried Tamr dates. Each participant was tested in three different times. Trials were separated by 1 week and proceeded in a randomized counterbalanced manner. Anthropometrics and food records were obtained for all participants. Proximate analysis revealed significant differences between Bisr and Tamr dates in moisture, ash, fat, protein, and fiber content (P<0.05), whereas, carbohydrate and energy contents were comparable (P>0.05). The incremental area under the blood glucose response curve was higher (164.5 ± 47.8) for the standard food in comparison with dried Bisr (88.5 ± 24.1, P < 0.0001) or dried Tamr dates (88.2 ± 27.9, P<0.0001), whereas, no significant differences were detected between the test foods (P>0.05). Both GI (Bisr: 54.6 ± 15.2 vs. Tamr: 54.3 ± 14.3) and GL (Bisr: 13.65 vs. Tamr: 13.58) were not significantly different between the test food items (P>0.05). Dried date fruits induce similar glycemic responses regardless of their maturity stage.
Highlights
The fruit of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera, L.) is consumed worldwide and is a dietary staple for many people in the Arabic world
The physiological transformation from Bisr to Rutab is interrupted in a large percentage of date fruits, which are wasted on the trees and discarded or at best used as animal feed
The current study aims to evaluate the nutritional composition, glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) values of dried Bisr and dried Tamr dates
Summary
The fruit of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera, L.) is consumed worldwide and is a dietary staple for many people in the Arabic world. Dates occupy about 30% of the cultivated land in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) producing about 760,000 metric tonnes (MT) of fruit, which is about 11.3% of the world’s production (Aldhaheri et al, 2004: Kamal-Eldin et al, 2012: MAF, 2000). Date fruits can be consumed at different stages of maturity and might vary in glycemic response. The incremental area under the blood glucose response curve was higher (164.5 ± 47.8) for the standard food in comparison with dried Bisr (88.5 ± 24.1, P < 0.0001) or dried Tamr dates (88.2 ± 27.9, P0.05) Both GI (Bisr: 54.6 ± 15.2 vs Tamr: 54.3 ± 14.3) and GL (Bisr: 13.65 vs Tamr: 13.58) were not significantly different between the test food items (P>0.05). Conclusion: Dried date fruits induce similar glycemic responses regardless of their maturity stage
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