Effect of low-sugar and High-dietary Fiber Noodles on Glycemic Response in Healthy Humans: A Cross-over Trial

Background: Low-carbohydrate diets are popular nutritional therapeutics based on recommendations of the American Diabetes Association (2013). In previous reports, we suggested a new diet-intake restriction method using low-sugar, high-dietary fiber noodles containing okara and konjac and reported their effect on blood glucose levels in healthy animals and animal models of type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to compare the effect of low-sugar, high-dietary fiber noodles with that of normal wheat noodles on glycemic response in healthy adult men.Methods: The study was a randomized, cross-over design to investigate the effects of normal wheat noodles versus low-sugar, high-dietary fiber noodles on glucose and insulin responses at 120 min. Plasma glucose and insulin levels were measured at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 120 min after intake of normal wheat noodles or low-sugar, high-dietary fiber noodles.Results: No abnormalities and side effects were observed in the low-sugar, high-dietary fiber noodles group. Additionally, in men who consumed low-sugar, high-dietary fiber noodles, the increase in postprandial blood glucose levels and insulin levels was significantly suppressed compared with that in men who consumed normal wheat noodles. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the effectiveness of low-sugar, high-dietary fiber noodles on postprandial blood glucose levels in healthy humans; our findings also suggest that such type of noodles might be beneficial for patients with diabetes or celiac disease who consume noodles.Trial registration: UMIN000023986