Oat Beta-Glucan Decreases Blood Glucose

QUEBECSupplementing 6 percent oat beta-glucan concentrate decreased net glucose flux, increased net SCFA flux and decreased peak apparent insulin production, according to a study published in The Journal of Nutrition (2010;140(9):1564-1569). Net glucose and SCFA flux and insulin secretion into the portal vein might be associated with the incretins glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The objectives of this study were to clarify this association and study the impact of two doses of dietary oat beta-glucan on the variables. Three 35-kg portal vein-catheterized pigs were fed three diets containing 0 percent, 3 percent or 6 percent oat beta-glucan concentrate (BG0, BG3, and BG6) for seven days in a repeated three times three Latin square.

Postprandially, pigs fed BG6 had lower portal glucose at 15, 30 and 45 minutes, and a lower net glucose flux during the first hour. Pigs fed BG6 tended to have lower portal C-peptide without lowering insulin, indicating pigs fed BG6 had lower actual insulin release combined with a higher prehepatic retention of insulin. Pigs fed BG6 had lower portal GIP and GLP-1, which in turn were correlated with portal glucose. Pigs fed BG3 and BG6 had a higher net SCFA flux than pigs fed BG0, indicating increased fermentation.