Human clinical trial to assess the effect of consumption of multigrain Indian bread on glycemic regulation in type 2 diabetic participants.

The efficacy of multigrain flatbread in regulating the lipid profile and carbohydrate homeostasis among type 2 diabetic patients was studied in 100 type 2 diabetic participants. The results revealed that the anthropometric parameters remained unaltered in both test and control groups. The fasting blood glucose levels (140.70 ± 8.43 versus 132.89 ± 5.63 mg/dl) did not significantly decrease. In contrast, the insulin levels (12.96 ± 1.06 versus 10.83 ± 1.03 µIU/ml) and HbA1c levels (8.01 ± 0.27 versus 7.40 ± 0.21%) in the test group decreased significantly, and it was associated with a decrease in insulin resistance. The LDL levels in the test group decreased after the intervention (116.0 ± 5.67 versus 98.7 ± 5.68 mg/dl), while triglycerides and VLDL increased significantly and HDL levels remained unaltered. A significant decrease in average blood pressure (systolic/diastolic) was noticed among the test group participants. The human RBP4 and hs-CRP remained unaltered. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Millets are rich in fibers, has complex carbohydrate, protein, and is lower in fat content. Millets provide a wide range of nutrients, phytochemicals, and are gluten-free with low glycemic nature. Their intake can reduce factors such as insulin resistance and oxidative stress responsible for the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Our study indicated the use of multigrain flatbreads prepared from millets helped reduce serum insulin, LDL cholesterol, HbA1c levels, and incidentally blood pressure levels with a significant increase in insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes participants. The results suggest using the multigrain flatbread meal as a food supplement or meal replacer in diabetic participants in terms of glucose control and insulin sensitivity.

Focus group studies on food safety knowledge, perceptions, and practices of school-going adolescent girls in South India.

OBJECTIVE: To understand food safety knowledge, perceptions, and practices of adolescent girls. DESIGN: Focus group discussions (FGDs) with 32 groups selected using stratified random sampling. SETTING: Four South Indian states. PARTICIPANTS: Adolescent girls (10-19 years). PHENOMENA OF INTEREST: Food safety knowledge, perceptions, and practices. ANALYSES: FGDs were audio recorded, transcribed, and manually coded by topic. At each stage of coding and analysis, reports were read independently by 3 researchers. Results were presented according to 4 food safety topics: concept of safe food; home-cooked food or outside food; packaged food products and food labels; and previous exposure to food safety education. RESULTS: Subjects confused the concept of nutrition with food safety. They were checking food labels, but they were not aware of quality symbols like ISI (Bureau of Indian Standards), FPO (Fruit Products Order), and AGMARK (Agriculture Marking and Grading Act); trusted more in brand names/expensive packaged food; were less careful about snack food safety. Receiving food safety information through school health education was preferred. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Adolescent girls are not aware of food quality standards. Awareness needs to be raised on permitted food additives concerning which foods can use them. Children should be familiarized with quality symbols on food labels.