Effects of L-Arabinose on Glycemic Responses After the Consumption of Sucrose-Rich Foods in Individuals with Impaired Fasting Glucose: A Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Trial.

Background: Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is considered a preclinical stage of type 2 diabetes. L-arabinose is a sucrase inhibitor that interferes with sucrose breakdown and has been shown to lower glycemic and insulinemic responses in healthy individuals. However, its effects in individuals with IFG are unknown.

Objectives: This study aims to assess effects of L-arabinose on glycemic responses after the consumption of sucrose-rich foods in individuals with IFG.

Methods: Eighteen adults [4 females, 14 males; age 73 ± 4 y; body mass index 27.5 ± 2.4 kg/m²] with IFG participated in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over trial. Participants received 10% w/w L-arabinose (treatment) in a 550 mL sucrose drink or a sucrose-only drink (control). Blood glucose and insulin were measured before and ≤180 min post consumption. After this, participants consumed a 2-d controlled diet with sucrose-rich (9-10 en%) meals and snacks, preceded by a 15% w/w L-arabinose supplement or no L-arabinose (control). Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) assessed glycemic variability throughout the trial.

Results: A single treatment of 10% w/w L-arabinose significantly reduced glucose peaks (-14%) and insulin peaks (-30%), with delays of 10 and 32 min, respectively. CGM also revealed significant reductions in variability compared with control value: standard deviation (-25%), coefficient of variation (-24%), and mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (-26%). However, no effects on glycemic variability were observed during the controlled diet.

Conclusions: A single treatment of L-arabinose to a sucrose-rich drink reduced insulin and glucose responses in individuals with IFG, but this effect did not extend to a sucrose-rich diet containing complex meals and snacks.

Trial registration number: https://onderzoekmetmensen.nl/nl/trial/27001.