Glycemic response of volunteers to the consumption of supplements and food formulas for oral and/or enteral nutrition

Abstract

PurposeThe objective of this study was to determine the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) of three products from the Brazilian market used as a supplement and food formula for oral and/or enteral nutrition.MethodsThe volunteers (n = 16) attended Food Research Center weekly for six weeks after a 10–12-h overnight fasting. Blood was sampled in the fasting state (t = 0) and at 15 min, 30 min, 45 min, 60 min, 90 min, and 120 min after starting to eat each evaluated meal: glucose solution (reference food, three times) and three products: Cubitan® vanilla (specific for wounds healing), Diasip® chocolate, and Diasip® vanilla (diabetic supplements). GI was determined by calculating the area under the glycemic response curve using the trapezoidal rule and ignoring the areas below the fasting line and considering the GI of glucose to be 100. To determine GL, it was considered the amount of carbohydrates available in a standard serving of the product and GI.ResultsThe three products studied showed low GI and low GL (Cubitan® GI = 35, GL = 6; Diasip® chocolate GI = 49, GL = 7; Diasip® vanilla GI = 47, GL = 7), with significant differences from those and the reference food, but no significant difference between them. Similar results were also observed for the blood glucose peak, which occurred 30 min after the consumption of all products.ConclusionsGI and GL of the products were considerably lower than those of the reference food. The products evaluated presented a low glycemic response, shown by a glycemic response curve with a slightly accentuated shape and no high peaks.