Blood glucose, plasma insulin and sensory responses to guar-containing wheat breads: effects of molecular weight and particle size of guar gum.

The effectiveness of guar gum in reducing post-prandial blood glucose and plasma insulin levels in human subjects seems to depend mainly on its ability to increase the viscosity of digesta in the small intestine. However, the precise relationship between the rheological properties of guar gum (either in vitro or in vivo) and the changes in blood metabolites and hormones is unknown. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to investigate the effects of wheat breads containing guar gum samples varying in molecular weight (Mw) and particle size (characteristics that strongly influence the rheological properties of guar gum) on post-prandial blood glucose and plasma insulin levels in healthy subjects. The sensory qualities of breads containing guar-gum flours of different Mw were also evaluated using a hedonic scoring technique. No significant differences in the post-prandial blood glucose responses were found between the control and guar breads. However, all the guar breads elicited significant (P less than 0.05) decreases in the post-prandial rise in plasma insulin, an effect that did not appear to be influenced by large variations in Mw or particle size of guar gum. Moreover, the sensory qualities of guar bread were markedly improved by using low Mw grades of guar gum.

Evaluation of guar biscuits for use in the management of diabetes: tests of physiological effects and palatability in non-diabetic volunteers.

A guar-shortbread biscuit has been successfully developed and tested for possible use in the dietary management of diabetes. A dose-response study was undertaken to estimate the amount of guar gum needed in the biscuit recipe to reduce postprandial glycaemia and insulinaemia. A control biscuit and three types of guar biscuit corresponding to a low, medium and high dose of guar (2.9, 6.0 and 9.1 g of guar respectively) were given to 8 non-diabetic subjects, and blood glucose and plasma insulin levels were determined at fasting, and at the postprandial times 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. Integrated insulin increments were estimated by calculation of the area under the curve. Sensory analysis of the biscuits was carried out by 36 non-diabetic panellists using a standard smiley chart containing hedonic phrases. No significant differences in the blood glucose increments were found between the control biscuit and the guar biscuits. However, all three guar biscuits produced smaller insulin rises than the control at all the postprandial times; statistically significant falls were indicated at the 60-min peak and 120-min times and for the integrated values. A linear regression model describing the relationship between integrated insulin and the dose of guar ingested is proposed. We have estimated from this model that a reduction of 209 mU/min/l in the integrated insulin can be achieved for every 1 g of guar incorporated into the biscuit. Mean hedonic scores indicated that all the guar biscuits were palatable, particularly the low-dose variety which was given a score almost identical to that of the control. A significant insulin-sparing effect in non-diabetic subjects was achieved using a palatable guar biscuit containing less than 3 g of guar flour.

Studies on fish protein concentrate and fish meal from river Nile bolti fish (Tilapia nilotica).

Fish protein concentrate (FPC) from river Nile bolti fish (Tilapia nilotica) was prepared and compared with commercial FPC and fresh bolti fish flesh. Fish meal (FM) from bolti fish offals was prepared and compared with commercial FM and also fresh bolti fish flesh. FPC from bolti fish showed a higher crude protein content but less fat, ash, calcium and sand than the commercial sample, while FM from bolti fish showed a higher content of ash and phosphorus than commercial FM but was nearly similar in crude protein, fat, calcium and sodium chloride. FPC from bolti fish had a higher content of lysine, arginine, aspartic acid, glycine and glutamic acid and a lower content of the other free amino acids. The bolti fish FM had a lower content of total amino acids and the contents of the free amino acids cysteine, glycine, aspartic acid, serine, alanine, valine, and methionine increased slightly. The yield was 12% for FPC and 19.5% for FM. Coliform bacteria were not present in both FPC and FM from bolti fish. Low moisture contents of FPC and FM were essential for preventing microbiol growth and to attain a good keeping quality. The FPC and FM from bolti fish reached moisture equilibrium and stopped increasing in weight within 144 to 192 h.