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Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research

Co-ingestion of NUTRALYS® pea protein and a high-carbohydrate beverage influences the glycaemic, insulinaemic, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) responses: preliminary results of a randomised controlled trial.

  • 2021-01-29
  • European journal of nutrition 60(6)
    • Pariyarath Sangeetha Thondre
    • Ifunanya Achebe
    • Alistair Sampson
    • Tyler Maher
    • Laetitia Guérin-Deremaux
    • Catherine Lefranc-Millot
    • Elisabeth Ahlström
    • Helen Lightowler

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population
thirty-one healthy individuals
Methods
single-blind, randomised, controlled, repeat measure, crossover design trial; participants ingested 50 g glucose (Control), 50 g glucose with 25 g pea protein (Test 1) and 50 g glucose with 50 g pea protein (Test 2) on three separate days
Blinding
Single-blind
Duration
180 min
Funding
Unclear
  • Rigorous Journal

Purpose

Plant-based proteins may have the potential to improve glycaemic and gastrointestinal hormone responses to foods and beverages. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two doses of pea protein on postprandial glycaemic, insulinaemic, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) response following a high-carbohydrate beverage intake in healthy individuals.

Methods

In a single-blind, randomised, controlled, repeat measure, crossover design trial, thirty-one participants were randomly assigned to ingest 50 g glucose (Control), 50 g glucose with 25 g pea protein (Test 1) and 50 g glucose with 50 g pea protein (Test 2) on three separate days. Capillary blood samples (blood glucose and plasma insulin measurements) and venous blood samples (GIP and GLP-1 concentrations) were taken before each test and at fixed intervals for 180 min. The data were compared using repeated-measures ANOVA or the Friedman test.

Results

Glucose incremental Area under the Curve (iAUC180) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) after Test 2 compared with Control (- 53%), after Test 1 compared with Control (- 31%) and after Test 2 compared with Test 1 (-32%). Insulin iAUC 180 was significantly higher (p < 0.001) for Test 1 (+ 28%) and Test 2 (+ 40%) compared with Control and for Test 2 (+ 17%) compared with Test 1 (p = 0.003). GIP and GLP-1 release showed no clear difference between Control and Pea protein drinks.

Conclusion

The consumption of pea protein reduced postprandial glycaemia and stimulated insulin release in healthy adults with a dose-response effect, supporting its role in regulating glycaemic and insulinaemic responses.

Research Insights

  • Insulin iAUC 180 was significantly higher (p < 0.001) for Test 1 (+ 28%) compared with Control

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
    Dose
    50 g
  • Glucose incremental Area under the Curve (iAUC180) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) after Test 1 compared with Control (- 31%)

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
    Dose
    50 g
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