The effects of a fibre-enriched bakery product on glucose, insulin values and appetite. A pilot randomised cross-over trial

Abstract

Brewers spent grain (BSG) is a valuable source of arabinoxylans with potential beneficial effects on glucose values. This pilot randomised crossover double-blind trial compared the effects of panettone, a sweet baked-product, enriched with BSG-fibre (p-rich) to unenriched panettone (p-standard) on glucose and insulin blood values and appetite scores. Ten healthy volunteers consumed each food in a random order. Blood variables and appetite scores were assessed at fasting and at different intervals after each food consumption. Glucose values were significantly higher after p-standard intake at 90-min (89.9 ± 16.1 vs 74.6 ± 19.4 mg/dL) and 120-min (81.1 ± 9.85 vs 72.1 ± 14.0 mg/dL). The areas-under-the-curve (AUCs) were lower for both glucose (p = .043) and insulin values (p = .036) with p-rich. At 240-min, satiety was higher (p = .006), and desire-to-eat lower (p = .008) with p-rich; desire-to-eat AUC was lower with p-rich too (p = .029). The integration of a small amount of BSG-derived fibre into a sweet food led to improved glycaemic control and appetite regulation.

Keywords:

• Appetite
• arabinoxylan
• brewers spent grain
• fibre
• glucose
• insulin

Acknowledgements

The company “Albertengo” prepared the products (p-rich and p-standard) for the tests. HEALLO s.r.l. provided the fiber “JAX Plus^®”. The company Baladin provided the beer for the product. The researchers did not receive any influence by the above reported companies in the drafting of the protocol, carrying out the experiment, analyzing the results, and writing the paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from Regione Piemonte (P.O.R. FESR 2014/2020 - Azione I.lb.2.2 Bando Pi.Te.F).