Probiotic fruit beverages with different polyphenol profiles attenuated early insulin response

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Human Physiology
• Food Science

Background:

• Polyphenol-rich fruits and vegetables may improve postprandial glucose and insulin levels.
• Bilberry consumption has been previously linked to decreased postprandial insulin demand.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the impact of different polyphenol profiles from various supplements on postprandial glucose and insulin responses in healthy young adults.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, controlled, crossover study involving eleven healthy adults.
• Participants consumed beverages containing bilberry, blackcurrant, beetroot, mango, or rose hip, enriched with fermented oatmeal and probiotics.
• High-performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) was used to determine polyphenol profiles, and TEAC and DPPH assays measured antioxidative capacity.

Main Results:

• Beverages with bilberry, blackcurrant, mango, or rose hip significantly attenuated the early postprandial insulin response (0-90 min) without affecting glucose response.
• Bilberry and rose hip drinks specifically reduced the insulin response from the very early phase (0-30 min) and had a lower insulin index compared to the control.
• The effectiveness of bilberry and rose hip in reducing early postprandial insulin responses correlated with their higher phenolic content.

Conclusions:

• Supplements containing bilberry, blackcurrant, mango, or rose hip, when added to a probiotic and oatmeal-enriched beverage, attenuated the early-phase insulin response but did not impact postprandial glycemic response.
• The enhanced ability of bilberry and rose hip to lower the very early insulin response is likely attributable to their higher phenolic content.