Abstract
Background: Whey protein is known to reduce postprandial glycaemia in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lupin as a vegetable source of protein could be considered as an alternative, as the percentage of vegetarian and vegan consumers is raising. The present study compares the acute glycemic effects of whey and lupin in healthy volunteers following a carbohydrate-rich reference meal.Methods In cross-over design, three standardized meals (reference meal; reference meal + whey; reference meal + lupin) were provided to 12 healthy male and female volunteers, aged between 23 and 33, in a balanced, randomized order. Volunteers' blood glucose and insulin concentrations were analyzed at baseline and at seven time points following the ingestion of the meals.Results: The supplementation of whey or lupin significantly blunted the postprandial increase in blood glucose concentrations compared to the reference meal (p < 0.001). In the overall statistical analysis, this effect was comparable for whey and lupin [Δ AUC whey-lupin = 8%, 0–60 min area under the curve (0–60 min AUC), p = 0.937], with a blunting effect of −46% by whey (p = 0.005, 0–60 min AUC) and of −54% by lupin (p < 0.001, 0–60 min AUC). When comparing whey and lupin data only, the insulin increase was found to be more pronounced for whey protein than for lupin supplementation (Δ AUC whey-lupin = 39%, 0–60 min AUC, p = 0.022). However, when comparing the insulin response of each supplementation to the one of the reference meal, no differences could be detected (whey p = 0.259, 0–60 min AUC; lupin p = 0.275, 0–60 min AUC).Conclusions: Results suggest that lupin and whey can both lower the increase of postprandial blood glucose concentrations to a comparable extent, implying the usability of lupin to reduce postprandial glycaemia. However, the insulin response following the supplementations to a carbohydrate-rich meal seems to differ for these two protein sources.
Highlights
The development of insulin resistance and high blood glucose concentrations in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are often linked to obesity, physical inactivity or poor diet (International Diabetes Federation, 2015)
Whey protein was found to contain an amount of 2.28 g of methionine and of 2.41 g of cysteine per 100 g
For lupin the content of methionine amounted to 0.13 g, and for cysteine to 0.61 g per 100 g
Summary
The development of insulin resistance and high blood glucose concentrations in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are often linked to obesity, physical inactivity or poor diet (International Diabetes Federation, 2015). These manifestations can be prevented, or even reversed by physical exercise and dietary interventions (International Diabetes Federation, 2015). Evidence relates the risk of hip fracture to high animal protein intake (Frassetto et al, 2000). Taken together, this forms a rationale to seek for alternative ways of protein supplementation, most intuitively by protein from vegetable sources. The present study compares the acute glycemic effects of whey and lupin in healthy volunteers following a carbohydrate-rich reference meal
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