Postprandial glycemic effects of lactose-hydrolyzed milk supplemented with mulberry leaf and corn silk extracts in adults with type 2 diabetes: A randomized crossover trial.

2025-06
Clinical nutrition ESPEN 67
- You Sun
- Yong Zhang
- Xiaokang Niu
- Yan Liu
- Lingling Xu
- Yifan Wang
- Qi Zhang
- Jingjing He
- Yinghua Liu
- Kaishuai Zhang
- Ran Wang
- Jian He
- Jie Guo

PubMed: 40187731
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2025.03.174

Study Design

Type: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population: 28 adults with type 2 diabetes (55 ± 10 years old, fasting blood glucose: 6.93 ± 1.22 mmol/L)
Methods: crossover trial, randomized to four interventions (water, MCE, LHM, LHM-MCE), separated by a 7 d washout, continuous glucose monitoring over 2 h after interventions
Duration: 2 h after interventions (per intervention), with 7 d washout between interventions

Background & aims

Lactose-hydrolyzed milk is widely used to address lactose intolerance. However, its monosaccharide content may rapidly increase postprandial blood glucose levels and heighten glycemic variability. We aimed to explore the effects of mulberry leaf and corn silk extracts (medicinal and edible homologous materials) and their supplementation in lactose-hydrolyzed milk on postprandial glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Eligible participants in this crossover trial were randomized to four interventions, separated by a 7 d washout. Intervention foods were whole-grain bread (50 g carbohydrates) together with water, mulberry leaf and corn silk extracts (MCE), lactose-hydrolyzed milk (LHM), or lactose-hydrolyzed milk supplemented with mulberry leaf and corn silk extracts (LHM-MCE). Continuous glucose monitoring systems were used to collect fasting and postprandial interstitial glucose over 2 h after interventions and to calculate the incremental area under the curve (iAUC). Paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the difference in iAUC, 1-h postprandial glycemic (1h PG), 2h PG, maximum glycemic, and maximum glucose excursion from baseline across interventions.

Results

Twenty-eight adults with type 2 diabetes (55 ± 10 years old, fasting blood glucose: 6.93 ± 1.22 mmol/L) completed the trial. MCE was associated with lower levels of maximum glycemic (median of difference [-1.9, 0.4], P = 0.025) and maximum glucose excursion from baseline (-0.9 [-1.5, -0.03], P = 0.005) compared to water. LHM-MCE was associated with lower levels of 1h PG (-0.7 [-1.9, 0.4], P = 0.04), maximum glycemic (-0.9 [-2.2, 0.4], P = 0.014), and maximum glucose excursion from baseline (-1.0 [-2.3, -0.4], P = 0.003) compared to LHM.

Conclusions

Mulberry leaf and corn silk extracts may benefit postprandial glycemic control and their incorporation into lactose-hydrolyzed milk could be a promising dietary intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Registration number of clinical trial

ChiCTR2400086442. WEBSITE: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=235132.