Obesity is a global problem affecting more than 1·9 billion adults in 2014 and is a major risk factor for developing chronic diseases( 1 ). Increasing dietary fibre intake is a key recommendation for weight control and prevention of chronic disease. In the UK, a minimum of 30 g of dietary fibre a day is recommended for the adult population( 2 ). However, dietary fibre intake in Western countries is generally less than adequate for the prevention of major non-communicable diseases (NCD)( Reference Marlett, McBurney and Slavin 3 ). Thus finding alternative ways to increase dietary fibre consumption may help consumers achieve this recommendation. Fruits and vegetables are rich in (poly)phenols along with tea, coffee and cocoa, with tea one of the most important source of (poly)phenols in the UK diet( Reference Yahya, Day, Lawton, Myrissa, Croden and Dye 4 ). High (poly)phenol intake is associated with lower risk of mortality( Reference Tresserra-Rimbau, Rimm, Medina-Remon, Martinez-Gonzalez, Lopez-Sabater and Covas 5 ). Tea catechins positively regulated glucose levels in in vitro and in vivo studies. Combining the two functional ingredients (β-glucan and black tea) in a staple food such as bread is a feasible way to simultaneously increase dietary fibre intake and deliver the health benefits of (poly)phenols. We have shown that combination of β-glucan and black tea in bread was acceptable, palatable and reduced the rate of in vitro starch hydrolysis( Reference AM, Edwards, Combet, Ibrahim and Garcia 6 ). Hence, we hypothesized that this bread would slow postprandial glucose and insulin responses in healthy volunteers.
Healthy subjects (7 males and 8 females; 25·5 (4·3) years; BMI 22·9 (3·3) kg/m2) completed all four-arms of a cross-over trial. After an overnight fast, subjects were randomised to consume white bread (WB), or bread containing black tea (BT), β-glucan (βG) and both β-glucan and black tea (βGBT) breads for breakfast. All subjects consumed all breads with a one-week wash out between each leg of the trial. Blood samples were taken before (0 min) and at 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after breakfast and assayed for glucose (ROCHE glucose diagnostic test, mmol/L, CV < 20 %) and insulin (Insulin ELISA kit, mU/L, CV < 50 %). Data was analysed using one-way ANOVA (between bread difference) and two-way ANOVA (time interactions difference) and p < 0·05 is considered as significant.
We observed high inter-individual variations in both glucose and insulin responses. There was a significant (p < 0·05) difference in glucose response between βG and βGBT at 15 min (Fig. 1). There were significant (p < 0·05) time interactions (fasting vs 30 min, 30 min vs 180 min) for WB, BT and βGBT except βG. βG showed significantly lower glucose area under the curve (AUC) compared with WB, BT and βGBT (p < 0·05). Insulin responses were similar between breads but significantly (p < 0·05) different between time points (fasting vs 30 min, 30 min vs 120 min, 30 min vs 180 min) (Fig. 2).
Fig. 1. Results are expressed as mean (SEM). Asterisk (*) indicates significant (p < 0·05) difference between bread.
Fig. 2. Results are expressed as mean (SEM). Asterisk (*) indicates significant (p < 0·05) difference between bread.
This study suggests no beneficial effect of adding black tea in β-glucan bread on glucose and insulin responses. Future study is required to determine whether there are any significant dose and long-term effects of adding β-glucan and black tea to bread.
