Blood glucose; response to two local varieties of apple [pyrus malus, linn] in normal and diabetic human subjects

ABSTRACT

glycaemic indeces of two local varieties of apple have been determined in normal and diabetic subjects in order to assess their capability to raise blood glucose levels. SUBJECTS: Seven normals and seven diabetics were included in this study to compare their blood glucose responses in both the groups. A glucose tolerance test was performed on each individual for comparison using 50 g of glucose and the amount of each apple variety containing 50 g soluble carbohydrates. METHODS: The serum glucose levels were determined by the glucose oxidase method by using a kit. DESIGN: A controlled clinical trial design was used. The mean glycaemic indices of apple variety I and II were 32.2% and 36.2% in comparison to glucose in diabetic subjects. The mean +/- SEM, area under curve for 50 g glucose was 5209.28 +/- 1789.69 [mg min/dl], for apple variety I was 1174.28 +/- 904.39 [mg min/dl] and for apple variety II it was 2048.57 +/- 894.60 [mg min/dl]. These values for both varieties of apple, are highly significantly [P<0.001] lower than that of glucose. These data have suggested that inspite of high carbohydrate contents present in both varieties of apple tested, they are suitable for the use to diabetics as their dietary fibre contents decrease the blood glucose levels from rising to the abnormally high limits