Effect of a Novel High Fiber Rice Diet on 24-Hour Glycemic Responses in Asian Indians Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Cooked rice- and wheat-based food structure influenced digestion kinetics and glycemic response in growing pigs

BACKGROUND

How starch-based food structure can impact the rate and extent of digestion in the small intestine and resulting glycemic response is not properly understood. One possible explanation is that food structure influences gastric digestion, which subsequently determines digestion kinetics in the small intestine and glucose absorption. However, this possibility has not been investigated in detail.

OBJECTIVES

Using growing pigs as a digestion model for adult humans, this study aimed to investigate how physical structure of starch-rich foods impacts small intestinal digestion and glycemic response.

METHODS

Male growing pigs (21.7 ± 1.8 kg, Large White × Landrace) were fed one of six cooked diets (250-g starch equivalent) with varying initial structures (rice grain, semolina porridge, wheat or rice couscous, or wheat or rice noodle). The glycemic response, small intestinal content particle size and hydrolyzed starch content, ileal starch digestibility, and portal vein plasma glucose were measured. Glycemic response was measured as plasma glucose collected from an in-dwelling jugular vein catheter for up to 390 min postprandial. Portal vein blood samples and small intestinal content were measured after sedation and euthanasia of the pigs at 30, 60, 120, or 240 min postprandial. Data were analyzed with a mixed-model ANOVA.

RESULTS

The plasma glucose Δmax_overall and iAUC_overall for couscous and porridge diets (smaller-sized diets) were higher than intact grain and noodle diets (larger-sized diets); 29.0 ± 3.2 vs. 21.7 ± 2.6 mg/dL and 5659 ± 727 vs. 2704 ± 521 mg/dL.min, for the smaller- and larger-sized diets, respectively (p < 0.05). Ileal starch digestibility was not significantly different between diets (p ≥ 0.05). The iAUC_overall was inversely related to the starch gastric emptying half-time of the diets (r = -0.90, p = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

Starch-based food structure affected the glycemic response and starch digestion kinetics in the small intestine of growing pigs.

Lower Interstitial Glucose Concentrations but Higher Glucose Variability during Low-Energy Diet Compared to Regular Diet-An Observational Study in Females with Obesity

This is an observational study of interstitial glucose (IG) concentrations, IG variability and dietary intake under free-living conditions in 46 females with obesity but without diabetes. We used continuous glucose monitoring, open-ended food recording and step monitoring during regular dietary intake followed by a low-energy diet (LED). Thirty-nine participants completed both study periods. The mean BMI at baseline was 43.6 ± 6.2 kg/m2. Three weeks of LED resulted in a mean weight loss of 5.2% with a significant reduction in diurnal IG concentration but with greater glycemic variability observed during LED. The mean 24 h IG concentration decreased from 5.8 ± 0.5 mmol/L during the regular diet period to 5.4 ± 0.5 mmol/L (p < 0.001) during LED, while the mean amplitude of glycemic excursion increased from 1.5 ± 0.7 to 1.7 ± 0.7 mmol/L (p = 0.031). The positive incremental area under the curve at breakfast was significantly larger for LED compared to regular diet. The daily fiber intake and the glycemic index of breakfast meals were significantly associated with the glycemic variability during regular dietary intake. In conclusion, the 24 h mean IG concentration was lower but with more pronounced glycemic variability during LED compared to a regular diet.

White Rice Intake and Incident Diabetes: A Study of 132,373 Participants in 21 Countries

OBJECTIVE

Previous prospective studies on the association of white rice intake with incident diabetes have shown contradictory results but were conducted in single countries and predominantly in Asia. We report on the association of white rice with risk of diabetes in the multinational Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Data on 132,373 individuals aged 35-70 years from 21 countries were analyzed. White rice consumption (cooked) was categorized as <150, ≥150 to <300, ≥300 to <450, and ≥450 g/day, based on one cup of cooked rice = 150 g. The primary outcome was incident diabetes. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using a multivariable Cox frailty model.

RESULTS

During a mean follow-up period of 9.5 years, 6,129 individuals without baseline diabetes developed incident diabetes. In the overall cohort, higher intake of white rice (≥450 g/day compared with <150 g/day) was associated with increased risk of diabetes (HR 1.20; 95% CI 1.02-1.40; P for trend = 0.003). However, the highest risk was seen in South Asia (HR 1.61; 95% CI 1.13-2.30; P for trend = 0.02), followed by other regions of the world (which included South East Asia, Middle East, South America, North America, Europe, and Africa) (HR 1.41; 95% CI 1.08-1.86; P for trend = 0.01), while in China there was no significant association (HR 1.04; 95% CI 0.77-1.40; P for trend = 0.38).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher consumption of white rice is associated with an increased risk of incident diabetes with the strongest association being observed in South Asia, while in other regions, a modest, nonsignificant association was seen.

The Effect of Two Types of Pasta Versus White Rice on Postprandial Blood Glucose Levels in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Background: Food choices are essential to successful glycemic control for people with diabetes. We compared the impact of three carbohydrate-rich meals on the postprandial glycemic response in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods: We performed a randomized crossover study in 12 adults with T1D (age 58.7 ± 14.2 years, baseline hemoglobin A1c 7.5% ± 1.3%) comparing the postprandial glycemic response to three meals using continuous glucose monitoring: (1) "higher protein" pasta containing 10 g protein/serving, (2) regular pasta with 7 g protein/serving, and (3) extra-long grain white rice. All meals contained 42 g carbohydrate; were served with homemade tomato sauce, green salad, and balsamic dressing; and were repeated twice in random order. After their insulin bolus, subjects were observed in clinic for 5 h. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess the glycemic response. Results: Compared with white rice, peak glucose levels were significantly lower for higher protein pasta (-32.6 mg/dL; 95% CI -48.4 to -17.2; P < 0.001) and regular pasta (-43.2 mg/dL, 95% CI -58.7 to -27.7; P < 0.001). The difference between the two types of pastas did not reach statistical significance (-11 mg/dL; 95% CI -24.1 to 3.4; P = 0.17). Total glucose area under the curve was also significantly higher for white rice compared with both pastas (P < 0.001 for both comparisons). Conclusions: This exploratory study concluded that different food types of similar macronutrient content (e.g., rice and pasta) generate significantly different postprandial glycemic responses in persons with T1D. These results provide useful insights into the impact of food choices on and optimization of glucose control. Clinical Trial Registry: clinicaltrials.gov NCT03362151.