None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This project is about the unrecognised role of organic acids in two most important health attributes of fruit – reduction in glycaemic response and stimulation of bowel activity. Organic acids are quantitatively a major component of most fruits. In the form of vinegar, organic acids have been shown to reduce glycaemic response, and it is traditional "knowledge" that in the form of lemon juice they have a laxative effect. We have shown that kiwifruit preload can substantially reduce glycaemic response and improve postprandial blood glucose profile without knowing exactly why. Kiwifruit has a high content of organic acids with a strong buffering capacity under gut conditions. However, research on the health benefits of fruits such as kiwifruit has almost completely ignored a role for organic acids. We therefore hypothesise that the organic acids of kiwifruit contribute to both its anti-glycaemic and its laxative effects. Furthermore, since organic acids are a universal component of fruit, we hypothesise more generally that many fruits will have similar effects to those of kiwifruit on blood glucose and laxation if they provide an adequate dose of organic acids. Therefore, we propose testing the effects of a mixture of organic acids representative of those found in fruit – citric, malic, ascorbic – on suppression of glycaemic response and activation of defaecation.
Interventions
Part 1 - Glycaemia :
The participants will be required to attend the clinic on 3 study days, and consume one of the test meals at each visit.
The test meals will be:
1. Water (control) + WeetBix™
2. Fruit organic acid solution at pH 3.4 + WeetBix™
3. Fruit organic acid solution neutralised (pH 7.0) + WeetBix™
In all meals the volume of water or fruit acid solution will be 250 ml (1 standard cup) and the quantity of WeetBix will be 60 g (4 biscuits). An additional 200 ml of water will be c
Part 1 - Glycaemia : The participants will be required to attend the clinic on 3 study days, and consume one of the test meals at each visit. The test meals will be: 1. Water (control) + WeetBix™ 2. Fruit organic acid solution at pH 3.4 + WeetBix™ 3. Fruit organic acid solution neutralised (pH 7.0) + WeetBix™ In all meals the volume of water or fruit acid solution will be 250 ml (1 standard cup) and the quantity of WeetBix will be 60 g (4 biscuits). An additional 200 ml of water will be consumed with all diets. Adherence of the intervention will be by the researchers directly observing the participants during the 3 hours for each session. There will be a wash-out period of 48 hours between each treatment. Part 2 - Laxation: The laxation study will follow the glycaemia study after a washout period of 3 days. There will be two treatments: 1. Water (control) 2. Organic acid solution at pH 3.4 (the same pH as kiwifruit flesh) The order in which the participants will take the treatments will be determined by randomising. After the washout period the participant will go on to the first treatment for 5 days, have a three day break, and then take the second treatment for 5 days. The frequency of administration of the treatment will be once daily in the morning with breakfast or just before breakfast for 5 days. Adherence to the intervention will be checklist that the participants will have to complete each day.
Sponsors
The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Crossover
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
• healthy individual of any gender • aged 18-50 years • no known hypersensitivity or intolerance to wheat • do not suffer from gastritis • absence of pathological bowel disorder • willing to fast from 9.00 pm the evening before a test for the glycaemia study • give written consent and agree to comply with the conditions of the study • willing to consume no food other than the breakfast supplied and water until the last blood sample on the trial days of the glycaemia study.
Exclusion criteria
• Intolerant to acidic foods • gut condition such as irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcers or are taking laxative. • suffer from diabetes or prediabetes • have a fasting blood glucose of greater than 5.6 mmol/L • have glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) of greater than 40 mmol/mol
Outcome results
None listed