Abstract
Foxtail millet has relatively low starch digestibility and moderate glycemic index compared to other grains. Since there are still no clinical researches regarding its long-term effect on blood glucose, this self-controlled study was conducted to investigate the glucose-lowering effect of foxtail millet in free-living subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Fifty g/day of foxtail millet was provided to enrolled subjects throughout 12 weeks and the related clinical parameters were investigated at week 0, 6 and 12, respectively. After 12 weeks of foxtail millet intervention, the mean fasting blood glucose of the subjects decreased from 5.7 ± 0.9 mmol/L to 5.3 ± 0.7 mmol/L (p < 0.001) and the mean 2 h-glucose decreased from 10.2 ± 2.6 mmol/L to 9.4 ± 2.3 mmol/L (p = 0.003). The intake of foxtail millet caused a significant increase of serum leptin (p = 0.012), decrease of insulin resistance (p = 0.007), and marginal reduction of inflammation. Furthermore, a sex-dependent difference in glucose-lowering effect of foxtail millet was observed in this study. Foxtail millet could improve the glycemic control in free-living subjects with IGT, suggesting that increasing the consumption of foxtail millet might be beneficial to individuals suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Highlights
IntroductionOne of the largest epidemics the world has faced, is a major risk factor for public health
Diabetes, one of the largest epidemics the world has faced, is a major risk factor for public health.Over the past few decades, both the prevalence of diabetes and the number of diabetics has increased dramatically, due to rapid socioeconomic development and lifestyle changes
There were no significant difference of fasting insulin (FINS), fructosamine, and 2 h-insulin concentrations during the intervention period
Summary
One of the largest epidemics the world has faced, is a major risk factor for public health. Over the past few decades, both the prevalence of diabetes and the number of diabetics has increased dramatically, due to rapid socioeconomic development and lifestyle changes. People with IGT are at high risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The average annual progression rates ranged from 6.0% to 15.7% and the cumulative incidence of diabetes at 6 years reached to 67.7% [2,3]. An unhealthy diet and lack of exercise were associated with a significantly increased risk of diabetes [4,5]. The majority of cases of T2DM could be delayed or prevented by the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, such as sufficient consumption of whole grains, Nutrients 2018, 10, 1509; doi:10.3390/nu10101509 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients
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