Acute glycaemic response of orange juice consumption with breakfast in individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomized cross-over trial.

Background/objectives: Sugar-sweetened beverages are associated with an increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and show clear differential metabolic responses compared with 100% fruit juice, which is unsweetened by law. This study investigated whether the postprandial glycaemic response following a standardized breakfast differed when accompanied by 100% orange juice, equivalent whole orange, or a sugar-sweetened control beverage in individuals with well-controlled T2DM.

Subjects/methods: Fifteen individuals with T2DM (60 ± 6 y; BMI 28.7 ± 5.0 kg/m², HbA1C 49 ± 3 mmol/mol (6.6 ± 0.3%)) participated in this randomized cross-over trial. They consumed a standardized breakfast served with either 250 mL of 100% orange juice, a sugar-sweetened orange-flavoured beverage or whole orange pieces with identical total sugar content. Postprandial glycaemic and insulinaemic responses were checked during 4 h.

Results: Following a single intake, no significant differences were found in acute glucose or insulin responses (expressed as total or incremental area under the curve or peak values; p_treatment > 0.05, respectively) when either whole orange pieces, orange juice or a sugar-sweetened control beverage were consumed with a standard high carbohydrate meal. Capillary glucose responses did not differ between conditions (p_treatment > 0.05).

Conclusion: Acute glycaemic control in individuals with well-controlled T2DM is not significantly influenced by serving orange juice, whole orange pieces or a sugar-sweetened beverage with a standard high-carbohydrate meal.