Implications of Elevated Postprandial Glucose and Nutritional Approaches for Postprandial Glucose Management with a Focus on Whey Proteins

Abstract

This symposium took place at the 58th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Stockholm, Sweden. The first speaker was John L. Sievenpiper, who discussed the pathophysiology of postprandial hyperglycaemia and how it may impact the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), peripheral vascular disease, insulin resistance, and other comorbidities in patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Sievenpiper then reviewed various pharmacological interventions that target postprandial glucose (PPG) and insulin levels, including incretin therapies and α-glucosidase inhibitors, such as acarbose. Data presented showed that a low glycaemic index (GI) diet can improve glycaemic control and reduce cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and T2D. Sievenpiper then presented data on novel non-pharmacological approaches that target PPG, including mulberry leaf (Morus alba L) extract (MLE), which has α-glucosidase inhibitor activity, reducing PPG and insulin responses to sucrose. The second speaker, Bo Ahrén, presented data on the effects of whey protein (WP) and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on PPG management and as a potential intervention for postprandial hyperglycaemia. They also discussed the mechanisms underlying the effects of WP, and highlighted data presented at the 2022 58th Annual EASD meeting by Johansen and colleagues on a novel micelle microgel technology. WP microgels (WPM) deliver highly concentrated and lower calorie doses of WP, with the potential to be developed clinically as therapeutics for T2D. The symposium concluded with a question and answer session between panel members and the audience. Ian J. Neeland was the meeting moderator.