JACN Did you know that you can get alerts when a new issue is online?
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hallfrisch, J.
Right arrow Articles by Behall, K. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hallfrisch, J.
Right arrow Articles by Behall, K. M.
Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 21, No. 5, 410-415 (2002)
Published by the American College of Nutrition

Glucose and Insulin Responses to a New Zero-Energy Fiber Source

Judith Hallfrisch, PhD, CNS, FACN, Daniel J. Scholfield, BS and Kay M. Behall, PhD, CNS

Diet and Human Performance Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland

Address reprint requests to: Judith Hallfrisch, Ph.D., Building 308, Room 126, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center-East, Beltsville, MD 20705. E-mail: hallfrij{at}ba.ars.usda.gov

Objective: Consumption of a number of soluble fiber sources reduces glucose and insulin responses in humans. These fibers provide some available energy. Z-trim, a completely insoluble, noncaloric fiber/fat replacer produced from grain, was developed by ARS scientist George Inglett but until this report had not been tested in humans. The objective was to test the effects of consumption of various doses of this new fiber on glucose and insulin responses in humans.

Design: Men and women (12 each) matched for age and body mass index (41 years, BMI 27) were given glucose or glucose with three levels of fiber in a Latin-square design. Blood samples were obtained before and 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes after solutions containing glucose alone (1 g/kg body weight) and glucose plus 0.08, 0.17 and 0.33 g/kg body weight of Z-trim were consumed. Plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon were determined by enzyme or radioimmunoassays. A repeated-measures analysis of variance was conducted.

Results: Glucose responses were lower for women than for men (p = 0.02) regardless of the test solution. At 30 minutes, glucose levels of men were 0.7–1.1 mmol/L lower after the two higher levels of fiber than after glucose alone. Insulin peak responses were delayed by high amounts of Z-trim. Fasting and response levels of glucagon were higher (p < 0.002) in women than in men. The decline in glucagon usually seen after a glucose load was moderated by the addition of fiber.

Conclusion: Although high levels of this new fiber may beneficially affect glucose metabolism of middle-aged people, it is less effective than soluble fiber.

Key words: glucose, insulin, Z-trim, fiber, glycemic index






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2002 by the American College of Nutrition.