Abstract
There are ethnic differences recorded in glycaemic response and rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) between Chinese and Caucasian populations. Whether these differences are evident in matched healthy, lean, active, young adults is unclear. This study compares the postprandial glycaemic response of a group of Chinese participants (n = 49) with a group of similar Caucasians, (n = 48) aged 23.8 (±4.35 years), body mass index (BMI) 22.7 (±2.6) kg/m2, healthy (free from non-communicable disease), and lean (body fat % 23.28% (±5.04)). Participants undertook an oral glucose tolerance test to identify any significant differences in postprandial blood glucose response. Body fat percentage, body mass, age, physical activity, baseline glucose and HbA1c did not significantly differ between groups. Data from food frequency questionnaires indicated that the Chinese participants consumed less starchy foods, candy and “other” sweets and sugary drinks, and more rice than the Caucasians (all p ≤ 0.001), but not a greater overall intake of carbohydrates or any other macronutrient (all p > 0.05). The two groups’ postprandial blood glucose responses and 2-h incremental area under the curve values (iAUC)—156.67 (74.12) mmol/L 120 min for Caucasians versus 214.03 (77.49) mmol/L 120 min for Chinese—indicate significant differences (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001 respectively) between groups. Findings suggest that the difference between the two groups’ iAUC values do not relate to obvious lifestyle factors. The Chinese group were eating the least sugary and starchy food but had the highest iAUC. It is argued that the Chinese group in this investigation have the most favourable BMI, body fat percentage, and body mass, yet “poorest” glycaemic response.
Highlights
Diabetes prevalence in the UK rose from 1.4 million to 3.2 million people between 1996 and 2013, with the majority being type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); 90–95%of cases) [1]
Katoaka et al [8] speculate that overall rice consumption may be indicated in the higher glycaemic response of Chinese individuals, and in the present investigation it is clear that the pattern of consumption of rice obtained by food frequency data was higher in the Chinese group than it is in the Caucasian group
Numerous controlled research projects have shown an ethnic difference in glycaemic response, including Caucasians, Chinese, and Southeast Indian populations
Summary
Diabetes prevalence in the UK rose from 1.4 million to 3.2 million people (type 1 and type 2 combined) between 1996 and 2013, with the majority being type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); 90–95%of cases) [1]. Prevalence in China is higher than Europe, with estimates between 92.4 and 114 million adult cases which equates to 10–12% of the Chinese population [2,3]. The prevalence of pre-diabetes (impaired glucose tolerance) is more alarming, and according to Xu et al [2] is 493.4 million people, equalling approximately 50% of the adult Chinese population. Elevated post-prandial glucose responses do not relate solely to populations with diabetes; increased risk of mortality appears to be related to high glucose levels in pre-diabetic populations [6]. Despite evidence alluding to the significance of elevated post-prandial glucose levels in healthy individuals, there has been greater focus on examining individuals with diabetes
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