Gut-Based Strategies to Reduce Postprandial Glycaemia in Type 2 Diabetes

Twelve Weeks of Daily Lentil Consumption Improves Fasting Cholesterol and Postprandial Glucose and Inflammatory Responses-A Randomized Clinical Trial

Lentils have potential to improve metabolic health but there are limited randomized clinical trials evaluating their comprehensive impact on metabolism. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of lentil-based vs. meat-based meals on fasting and postprandial measures of glucose and lipid metabolism and inflammation. Thirty-eight adults with an increased waist circumference (male ≥ 40 inches and female ≥ 35 inches) participated in a 12-week dietary intervention that included seven prepared midday meals totaling either 980 g (LEN) or 0 g (CON) of cooked green lentils per week. Linear models were used to assess changes in fasting and postprandial markers from pre- to post-intervention by meal group. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms were assessed through a survey randomly delivered once per week during the intervention. We found that regular consumption of lentils lowered fasting LDL (F = 5.53, p = 0.02) and total cholesterol levels (F = 8.64, p < 0.01) as well as postprandial glucose (β = -0.99, p = 0.01), IL-17 (β = -0.68, p = 0.04), and IL-1β (β = -0.70, p = 0.03) responses. GI symptoms were not different by meal group and all symptoms were reported as "none" or "mild" for the duration of the intervention. Our results suggest that daily lentil consumption may be helpful in lowering cholesterol and postprandial glycemic and inflammatory responses without causing GI stress. This information further informs the development of pulse-based dietary strategies to lower disease risk and to slow or reverse metabolic disease progression in at-risk populations.

Postprandial glycemic and circulating SCFA concentrations following okara- and biovalorized okara-containing biscuit consumption in middle-aged and older adults: a crossover randomized controlled trial

Okara is a high-fiber food by-product that can be biotransformed with Rhizopus oligosporus to improve its nutritional value and palatability. This research aims to assess postprandial changes in glycemic-related and lipid-related outcomes in middle-aged and older Singaporeans following okara- and biovalorized okara-containing biscuit consumption. Fifteen participants (58 ± 6 years old, mean ± SD) completed the randomized crossover study. Participants were provided control (C), okara (AOK)-, and biovalorized okara (RO)-containing biscuits in separate 4 h mixed meal tolerance tests. Serum glucose and insulin, insulin indices, serum short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lipid-lipoprotein panels, and sensory analysis were assessed. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was significantly lower for RO than for C (p: 0.035) while log insulin incremental area under the curve (AUC) was significantly lower for AOK compared to that for C (p: 0.023). The estimated insulin sensitivity index and estimated metabolic clearance rate were significantly higher for AOK compared to that for C (p: 0.025 and 0.016 respectively). Normalized AUC for total SCFA was significantly higher for RO compared to that for C (p: 0.038). Normalized AUC for LDL-cholesterol was significantly higher for AOK than for C (p: 0.010). No significant difference was noted for glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations. RO had greater flavor and overall liking than AOK (p: 0.007 and 0.017 respectively). Biscuits incorporated with okara or biovalorized okara can attenuate postprandial insulin responses. RO offered a greater SCFA response than C, indicating improved SCFA concentrations upon consumption of okara improved with fermentation. The trial was registered under https://www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03978104, 25 May 2019).

Inhibition of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 by Flavonoids: Structure–Activity Relationship, Kinetics and Interaction Mechanism

With the aim to establish a structure-inhibitory activity relationship of flavonoids against dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) and elucidate the interaction mechanisms between them, a pannel of 70 structurally diverse flavonoids was used to evaluate their inhibitory activities against DPP-4, among which myricetin, hyperoside, narcissoside, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, and isoliquiritigenin showed higher inhibitory activities in a concentration-dependent manner. Structure-activity relationship analysis revealed that introducing hydroxyl groups to C3', C4', and C6 of the flavonoid structure was beneficial to improving the inhibitory efficacy against DPP-4, whereas the hydroxylation at position 3 of ring C in the flavonoid structure was unfavorable for the inhibition. Besides, the methylation of the hydroxyl groups at C3', C4', and C7 of the flavonoid structure tended to lower the inhibitory activity against DPP-4, and the 2,3-double bond and 4-carbonyl group on ring C of the flavonoid structure was essential for the inhibition. Glycosylation affected the inhibitory activity diversely, depending on the structure of flavonoid aglycone, type of glycoside, as well as the position of substitution. Inhibition kinetic analysis suggested that myricetin reversibly inhibited DPP-4 in a non-competitive mode, whereas hyperoside, narcissoside, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, and isoliquiritigenin all reversibly inhibited DPP-4 in a mixed type. Moreover, the fluorescence quenching analysis indicated that all the five flavonoid compounds could effectively quench the intrinsic fluorescence of DPP-4 by spontaneously binding with it to form an unstable complex. Hydrogen bonds and van der Waals were the predominant forces to maintain the complex of myricetin with DPP-4, and electrostatic forces might play an important role in stabilizing the complexes of the remaining four flavonoids with DPP-4. The binding of the tested flavonoids to DPP-4 could also induce the conformation change of DPP-4 and thus led to inhibition on the enzyme. Molecular docking simulation further ascertained the binding interactions between DPP-4 and the selected five flavonoids, among which hyperoside, narcissoside, cyaniding 3-O-glucoside, and isoliquiritigenin inserted into the active site cavity of DPP-4 and interacted with the key amino acid residues of the active site, whereas the binding site of myricetin was located in a minor cavity close to the active pockets of DPP-4.

Basal insulin intensification with GLP-1RA and dual GIP and GLP-1RA in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus: A rapid review of randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis

Tirzepatide, a dual agonist of Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide (GIP) and Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptors, improved glucose control and reduced body weight in different therapeutic approaches. Herein, we overviewed the role of GIP and GLP-1 in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes and systematically reviewed the efficacy and safety of injectable incretin-based therapy added to basal insulin in light of the results of the SURPASS-5 trial. We identified eleven randomized clinical trials. GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) or Tirzepatide added to basal insulin than rigorously titrated basal insulin significantly ameliorates glucose control (Δ HbA_1c = -1%, 95% CI -1.25; -0.74, I² 94%; Δ FPG = -14.6 mg/dL, 95% CI -21.6-; -7.6, I² 90%; chance to achieve HbA_{1c <}7% = RR 2.62, 95% CI 2.10; 3.26, I² 89%), reduces body weight (Δ = -3.95 kg, 95% CI -5.1, -2.79, I² 96%) without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia (RR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.86; 1.18, I² 7.7%). Tirzepatide provides an impressive weight loss exceeding that observed with GLP-1RAs. Injectable incretin-based therapy plus basal insulin remains a potent and safe therapeutic approach in uncontrolled type 2 diabetes patients previously treated with basal insulin alone. Tirzepatide is expected to ameliorate the management of "diabesity" in this usually difficult-to-treat cluster of patients.