SubjectsTen women and 10 men were screened, and 10 women and nine men completed the study. One man did not complete the study because of noncompliance. A medical history questionnaire was used to exclude subjects with a chronic disease, such as gout, diabetes, or other metabolic or malabsorption disease, and those using medications affecting glucose metabolism. Inclusion criteria included age > 40 years, body mass index (kg/m 2 ) > 25, fasting blood glucose < 6.99 mmol/L (126 mg/dL), waist circumference > 100 cm in men and > 88 cm in women, and blood pressure < 140/90 mm Hg. Body fat (percent) was measured by bioelectrical impedance (TANITA body composition analyzer, model TBF-300A, Biodynamics, Seattle). All subjects were nonsmokers, nonathletes, not pregnant or lactating, free from food allergies, not dieting, and weight stable for the past year. During the screening, subjects completed several questionnaires, including the Eating Inventory (27) for assessing dietary restraint, disinhibition,
Research
ABSTRACTThe effects of a meal with and without soluble dietary fiber in the form of -glucan on shortterm satiety and glucose response were investigated in 19 overweight subjects. Subjects consumed four isocaloric test meals consisting of a glucose solution or wheat (0 g of -glucan), a wheat-barley mixture (1 g of -glucan), or barley (2 g of -glucan) served as cooked cereal with low-fat strawberry yogurt. Subjects used visual analog scales (VAS) to rate their hunger, fullness, satisfaction, thirst, nausea, and drowsiness at timed intervals before and after consumption of each test meal. Blood glucose was measured periodically, and energy intake was recorded 2 hr after consumption of each test meal. In women peak glucose responses and area under the curve were significantly lower after consumption of 2 g of -glucan compared with consumption of 0 or 1 g of -glucan. VAS ratings did not significantly differ among cereals. In men no effect ofglucan on glucose response was observed, and -glucan had only a marginal effect on VAS ratings. Energy intake was not affected by -glucan level in either women or men. The findings indicate that acute reduction of glycemic response in overweight women requires the consumption of at least 2 g of -glucan per meal, and greater amounts of -glucan per meal may be required to achieve substantial satiety effects in overweight women and men.
