Effect of the consumption of β-lactoglobulin and epigallocatechin-3-gallate with or without calcium on glucose tolerance in C57BL/6 mice

Abstract

Interactions between β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) may modulate their health benefits. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the synergistic effect of consuming β-lg and EGCG complexes on glucose tolerance of C57BL/6 male mice given an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and randomized to one of the following treatments administered prior to the OGTT: 1) simulated milk ultrafiltrate (SMUF^-), 2) SMUF^- + EGCG, 3) SMUF^- + β-lg, 4) SMUF^- + EGCG + β-lg, 5) SMUF + calcium (SMUF⁺) and 6) SMUF⁺ + EGCG + β-lg. We found no significant between-group difference in postprandial glucose response. However, when mice were separated in those who received β-lg from those who did not, we found that the latter displayed significantly higher postprandial glucose concentrations. Our results support the beneficial impact of β-lg on glycemic control and suggest that concomitant EGCG or calcium consumption does not improve this effect.

Keywords:

• Catechin
• incretins
• insulin
• whey proteins

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Christine Dallaire, Valérie Dumais and Joanie Dupont Morissette for their assistance with animal care and testing.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Funding information

This study was supported by a grant from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQ-NT) as well as Novalait (grant number: 2012-LT-150427).