Oat gum lowers glucose and insulin after an oral glucose load

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 53; no. 6; pp. 1425 - 1430
• Main Authors: Braaten, JT, Wood, PJ, Scott, FW, Riedel, KD, Poste, LM, Collins, MW
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-06-1991
• Subjects: Adult; ADULTE; ADULTOS; AVENAS; AVOINE; Beta-glucan; Blood Glucose - metabolism; CYAMOPSIS PSORALIOIDES; dietary fiber; Dietary Fiber - metabolism; Edible Grain; Female; FEMME; Galactans - metabolism; GLICEMIA; GLUCANE; GLUCANO; glucose; Glucose - administration & dosage; glucose homeostasis; GLYCEMIE; GOMAS; GOMME; guar gum; HOMBRES; HOMME; Humans; insulin; Insulin - blood; INSULINA; INSULINE; Male; Mannans - metabolism; MUJERES; oat gum; Plant Gums; PLASMA SANGUIN; PLASMA SANGUINEO; soluble fiber; guar gum; glucose homeostasis; glucose; insulin; Beta-glucan; dietary fiber; oat gum; soluble fiber; humans
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/53.6.1425

Foods containing soluble dietary fibers delay glucose absorption and lower postprandial plasma glucose. This effect of oat bran has been attributed to oat gum (80% β-glucan). However, purified oat gum has previously not been available for human studies. In this study the glucose and insulin responses to consuming 14.5 g of specifically prepared oat gum with 50 g glucose were compared with the response to guar gum with glucose and to glucose alone in nine healthy, fasting subjects. Plasma glucose and insulin increases after the glucose drink were greater than after both gum meals between 20 and 60 min (P < 0.01). The responses to the two gum meals were nearly identical. These results establish that the more palatable oat gum lowers postprandial plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in humans and may be comparable with or of greater benefit than guar gum.