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The habitual consumption of snacks has the potential to enrich or harm the diet. They can contribute to excessive caloric intake and hyperglycemia. Thus, there is an increasing interest in snacks with health-promoting properties. This study aimed to demonstrate the beneficial effect of two fruit-based bars on glucose levels through in vitro, in vivo, and in silico assays. Mango (Mangifera indica L.) and pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) bars (MB and PB) were prepared, and chemical composition, postprandial glycemic response, glycemic index (GI), and glycemic load (GL) were evaluated. The inhibitory effect of fruit bar extracts on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity and their respective molecular docking was assessed. MB and PB showed the lowest postprandial glycemic response vs. the control bar (p < 0.005), a lower GI (CB: 64.20, PB: 53.20, MB: 40.40), and a GL of 10.9 (CB), 7.9 (PB), and 6.1 (MB), (p < 0.05). MB and PB showed the highest inhibition % of α-amylase (61.44 and 59.37%, respectively) and α-glucosidase (64.97 and 64.57%). Naringenin (−1692.5985 and −2757.674 kcal/mol) and ferulic acid (−1692.8904 and −2760.3513 kcal/mol) exhibited more favorable interaction energies against α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity. The presence of polyphenols from the fruit influenced enzymatic inhibition. Likewise, the dietary fiber in the bars evaluated allowed us to observe a positive effect that favors glycemic control, making them a healthy alternative for snacking.

Background Different foods can modulate cardiometabolic risk factors in persons already affected by metabolic alterations. The objective of this study was to assess, in healthy overweight individuals, the impact of a diet combining multiple functional concepts on risk markers associated with cardiometabolic diseases (CMD). Methods Fourty-four healthy women and men (50-73 y.o, BMI 25-33, fasting glycemia ≤ 6.1 mmol/L) participated in a randomized crossover intervention comparing a multifunctional (active) diet (AD) with a control diet (CD) devoid of the \"active\" components. Each diet was consumed during 4 wk with a 4 wk washout period. AD included the following functional concepts: low glycemic impact meals, antioxidant-rich foods, oily fish as source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, viscous dietary fibers, soybean and whole barley kernel products, almonds, stanols and a probiotic strain ( Lactobacillus plantarum Heal19/DSM15313). Results Although the aim was to improve metabolic markers without promoting body weight loss, minor weight reductions were observed with both diets (0.9-1.8 ± 0.2%; P < 0.05). CD did not modify the metabolic variables measured. AD promoted significant changes in total serum cholesterol (-26 ± 1% vs baseline; P < 0.0001), LDL-cholesterol (-34 ± 1%; P < 0.0001), triglycerides (-19 ± 3%; P = 0.0056), LDL/HDL (-27 ± 2%; P < 0.0001), apoB/apoA1 (-10 ± 2%; P < 0.0001), HbA 1c (-2 ± 0.4%; P = 0.0013), hs-CRP (-29 ± 9%; P = 0.0497) and systolic blood pressure (-8 ± 1%¸ P = 0.0123). The differences remained significant after adjustment for weight change. After AD, the Framingham cardiovascular risk estimate was 30 ± 4% ( P < 0.0001) lower and the Reynolds cardiovascular risk score, which considers CRP values, decreased by 35 ± 3% ( P < 0.0001). Conclusion The improved biomarker levels recorded in healthy individuals following the multifunctional regime suggest preventive potential of this dietary approach against CMD.

PurposeA multifunctional diet (MFD) targeting subclinical inflammation was developed as a tool to decrease risk factors for cardiometabolic disease in healthy “at-risk” individuals (BMI 25–33 kg/m2). MFD contains several components that are degraded in the colon by the microbiota, such as dietary fibers from rye, barley, oats and berries. It also contains soy beans, oily fish and plant stanols. In previous studies, we have observed improved cardiometabolic markers in healthy at-risk individuals after 4–8 week intake of MFD. However, whether these improvements can be associated with changes in the gut microbiota composition has not been investigated. In the present study, we analyzed the gut microbiota before and after an 8-week dietary intervention with MFD.MethodsCardiometabolic at-risk individuals (n = 47), between 51 and 72 years old and with a BMI of 25–33 kg/m2, were given either the MFD or a control diet lacking the functional (“active”) components for 8 weeks in a parallel, randomized design. Next-generation sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes was used to analyze the gut microbiota composition.ResultsThe 8-week intervention with MFD did not significantly alter the gut microbiota composition at phylum or genus taxonomic levels, while LEfSE analysis identified increased abundance of Prevotella copri in the MFD group as compared to the control group. Treponema correlated positively with blood pressure. In contrast, Faecalibacterium showed a negative association with blood pressure, while Bilophila appeared to associate with a negative blood lipid profile.ConclusionsTaken together, results from the present study may be used in the further development of effective dietary concepts capable of reducing cardiometabolic risk markers in humans through a targeted modulation of the gut microbial community.Trial registration numberClinical Trials.gov NCT02148653.

Previously, it has been indicated that oat polar lipids included in a liquid meal may have the potential to beneficially modulate various cardiometabolic variables. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of oat polar lipids in a solid food matrix on acute and second meal glucose tolerance, blood lipids, and concentrations of gut-derived hormones. The oat polar lipids were consumed at breakfast and effects on the biomarkers were investigated in the postprandial period and following a standardized lunch. Twenty young, healthy subjects consumed in total four different breakfast meals in a crossover study design. The breakfasts consisted of 1. White wheat bread (WWB) with an added 7.5 g of oat polar lipids (PLL); 2. WWB with an added 15 g of oat polar lipids (PLH); 3. WWB with and added 16.6 g of rapeseed oil (RSO) as a representative of commonly consumed oils; and 4. WWB consumed alone, included as a reference. All products with added lipids contained equivalent amounts of fat (16.6 g) and available carbohydrates (50 g). Rapeseed oil was added to the oat polar lipid meals to equal 16.6 g of total fat. The standardized lunch was composed of WWB and meatballs and was served 3.5 h after the breakfast. Test variables (blood glucose, serum insulin, triglyceride (TG), free fatty acids (FFA), ghrelin, GLP-1, PYY, and GIP) were measured at fasting and repeatedly during the 5.5 h after ingestion of the breakfast. After breakfast, PLH substantially lowered postprandial glucose and insulin responses (iAUC 0–120 min) compared with RSO and WWB (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a reduced glycaemic response to lunch (210–330 min) was observed following the PLH breakfast compared to all of the other breakfasts served (p < 0.05). Oat polar lipids (PLH) significantly reduced TG and ghrelin and increased circulating gut hormones GLP-1 and PYY compared to RSO (p < 0.05). The results show that exchanging part of the dietary lipids with oat polar lipids has the potential to improve postprandial blood glucose regulation and gut hormones and thus may have a preventive effect against type 2 diabetes.

Purpose A multifunctional diet (MFD) was previously shown to reduce blood lipids, CRP and blood pressure in a 4-week intervention under weight-maintenance conditions. Here, MFD effects were evaluated in an 8-week intervention with no restriction for weight changes. Methods Healthy subjects consumed MFD (23 subjects) or a control diet (CD) devoid of the functional components (24 subjects) in a “free-living” randomized controlled experiment. MFD included several functional concepts: low-glycemic-impact meals, antioxidant-rich foods, oily fish, viscous dietary fibers, soybean and whole barley kernel products, almonds and plant stanols. Measured outcomes were fasting blood values of lipids, glucose, insulin, GGT, CRP, HbA1c, PAI-1, GLP-1, GLP-2, body weight, blood pressure and breath hydrogen. Results At baseline, participants were 51–72 years old, with BMI between 25 and 34 and fasting glycemia  ≤ 6.1 mmol/L. Consumption of both diets resulted in similar weight loss after 8 weeks (−4 %; P   <  0.001). Compared to baseline, consumption of MFD reduced total serum cholesterol (−26 %; P   <  0.0001), LDL cholesterol (−35 %; P   <  0.0001), triglycerides (−16 %; P   < 0.05), LDL/HDL (−27 %; P   <  0.0001) and ApoB/ApoA1 (−15 %; P   <  0.0001). There were important net differences between diets, which remained significant after adjustment for body weight. Reduced systolic blood pressure, circulating GGT, HbA1c and insulin concentrations were observed with both MFD and CD with no difference between diets. The Reynolds cardiovascular risk score was decreased by 36 % ( P   <  0.0001) with MFD. MFD increased breath hydrogen levels (120 %; P   <  0.05). Conclusions Consumption of MFD decreased blood lipids and improved several other aspects of the cardiometabolic risk profile. This effect was not dependent on weight loss.

IntroductionWhen compared to other primates, humans elicit a large variation in the copy number for the salivary amylase gene, AMY1. This variation can range from 2 to 17 copies. The AMY1 gene is responsible for coding for salivary amylase, an enzyme needed to catalyze the hydrolysis of starch molecules into smaller sugars. AMY1 copy number correlates with the amount and activity of salivary amylase. Few studies have investigated the effect of amylase copy number on fasting and postprandial glucose levels. The aim was first to investigate the association between AMY1 copy numbers and fasting glucose in an observational study, and secondly to investigate the difference in postprandial effect of high-starch meals in individuals with either high or low AMY1 copy numbers.Materials and methodsFor the observational study, we used data from 436 participants from the Malmö Offspring Study (MOS) cohort whom have been genotyped for AMY1. For the meal study (conducted during May 2019), we used genotype-based-recall to recruit 24 participants from the observational study of the MOS cohort: 12 with low AMY1 copy number (from the lowest 20%) and 12 with high AMY1 copy numbers (from the highest 20%). Each subject will be served a breakfast meal of white wheat bread on two separate test days: one containing 40 g and the other containing 80 g of carbohydrates (mainly starch). Blood samples will then be taken at various time points to investigate postprandial glucose and insulin responses.ResultsWhen using linear regression analyses adjusting for age and sex, no significant association between AMY1 copy number and fasting glucose was observed (p = 0.23). However, there was a difference (p = 0.05) in fasting glucose levels between the lowest (2–4 copy numbers: 5.31 mmol/L; 95% CI: 5.13–5.50) and highest (10–16 copy numbers: 5.57 mmol/L; 95% CI: 5.39–5.75) copy number groups. The results for the meal study will be obtained in June 2019 and be presented at the conference.DiscussionOur findings of higher fasting glucose among the group with more than 10 AMY1 copy numbers is the first study to find this and needs to be replicated in other populations.

The usefulness of dietary strategies against cardiometabolic risk is increasingly being acknowledged. Legumes and whole grains can modulate risk markers associated with cardiometabolic diseases, but their possible additive/synergistic actions are unknown. The objective of the present study was to assess, in healthy subjects, the effect of a diet including specific whole-grain barley products and legumes with prior favourable outcomes on cardiometabolic risk parameters in semi-acute studies. A total of forty-six overweight women (50–72 years, BMI 25–33 kg/m2 and normal fasting glycaemia) participated in a randomised cross-over intervention comparing a diet rich in kernel-based barley products, brown beans and chickpeas (D1, diet 1 (functional diet)) with a control diet (D2, diet 2 (control diet)) of similar macronutrient composition but lacking legumes and barley. D1 included 86 g (as eaten)/d brown beans, 82 g/d chickpeas, 58 g/d whole-grain barley kernels and 216 g/d barley kernel bread. Both diets followed the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations, providing similar amounts of dietary fibre (D1: 46·9 g/d; D2: 43·5 g/d), with wheat-based products as the main fibre supplier in D2. Each diet was consumed for 4 weeks under weight-maintenance conditions. Both diets decreased serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels, but D1 had a greater effect on total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels (P< 0·001 and P< 0·05, respectively). D1 also reduced apoB (P< 0·001) and γ-glutamyl transferase (P< 0·05) levels, diastolic blood pressure (P< 0·05) and the Framingham cardiovascular risk estimate (P< 0·05). D1 increased colonic fermentative activity, as judged from the higher (P< 0·001) breath hydrogen levels recorded. In conclusion, a specific barley/legume diet improves cardiometabolic risk-associated biomarkers in a healthy cohort, showing potential preventive value beyond that of a nutritionally well-designed regimen.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a tropical fruit which is considered to be a source of dietary fiber (DF) and phenolic compounds (PCs). In this study, high DF mango-based fruit bars were developed from whole mango (peel and pulp). The bars were evaluated for their nutritional composition, the bioaccesibility of PCs during gastrointestinal digestion, and the PCs metabolites profile after in vitro colonic fermentation. The amount of DF in a 30 g portion of mango bars was 9.5 g, i.e., 35% of the recommended daily intake. Phenolic acids such as gallic acid; cinnamic acids, such as ferulic, coumaric, and caffeic acids; flavonoids such as quercertin; and xanthones such as mangiferin and mangiferin gallate, were identified as the main PCs in the bars. The antioxidant capacity associated with the PCs profile, together with the high DF content are indicative of the potential functional features of these natural fruit bars. The bioaccesibility of PCs in the mango bar was 53.78%. During fermentation, the PCs were bioconverted mainly to hydroxyphenolic acids and the main short-chain fatty acid produced was acetic acid. The xanthone norathyriol was identified after 12 h of fermentation. This study on the digestion and colonic fermentation of mango-based bars using in vitro models provides hints of the potential physiological behavior of PCs associated with DF, which constitutes relevant information for further development of natural and health-promoting fruit-based bars.

Orange is a tropical fruit used in the juice industry, yielding important quantities of by products. The objective of this work was to obtain a dietary fiber-rich orange bagasse product (DFROBP), evaluate its chemical composition and its use in the preparation of a bakery product (muffin). Muffins containing two different levels of DFROBP were studied regarding chemical composition, in vitro starch digestibility, predicted glyceamic index and acceptability in a sensory test. DFROBP showed low fat and high dietary fiber contents. The soluble and insoluble dietary fiber fractions were balanced, which is of importance for the health beneficial effects of fiber sources. DFROBP-containing muffins showed the same rapidly digestible starch content as the reference muffin, whilst the slowly digestible starch level increased with the addition of DFROBP. However, the resistant starch content decreased when DFROBP increased in the muffin. The addition of DFROBP to muffin decreased the predicted glyceamic index, but no difference was found between the muffins prepared with the two DFROBP levels. The sensory score did not show difference between control muffin and that added with 10% of DFROBP. The addition of DFROBP to bakery products can be an alternative for people requiring low glyceamic response.

Due to its bioactive compounds, blue maize flour is a valuable ingredient for developing gluten-free products. The incorporation of alternative flours into gluten-free pasta is a challenge as it usually results in products that, despite their enhanced nutraceutical features, show reduced quality characteristics. Composite pasta was prepared with variable (25, 50 and 75%) contents of flours from white and blue maize, chickpea and unripe plantain, following a laboratory-scale process. The composite pasta exhibited acceptable cooking loss (9–11%); pasta with blue maize showed lower hardness and chewiness, but higher adhesiveness than its white maize-based counterpart. Blue maize-based pasta presented dark color. The addition of blue maize flour at 75% conveyed the highest total phenolic content retention after extrusion (80%) and cooking (70%). Pasting profile of blue maize pasta (50 and 75%) showed a defined second viscosity peak due to re-arrangement of starch components upon cooling. The observed retention of phenolic compounds with antioxidant capacity after cooking will be useful for further development (selection of ingredients, formulations and conditions of operation) of gluten-free products with potential health benefits.