A SMALL DOSE OF SOLUBLE ALGINATE-FIBER AFFECTS POSTPRANDIAL GLYCEMIA AND GASTRIC-EMPTYING IN HUMANS WITH DIABETES

Seven men with well-controlled, non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes ingested on two different mornings, in random order, meals with or without a 5.0-g sodium alginate supplement (algae-isolate, 75% soluble fiber). The meals contained similar amounts of digestible carbohydrates, fat and protein. The gastric emptying rate of the meal containing sodium alginate, measured by detection of Cr-51 mixed into the meals, was significantly slower than that of the fiber-free meal. Sodium alginate also induced significantly lower postprandial rises in blood glucose, serum insulin and plasma C-peptide. The diminished glucose response after the addition of sodium alginate could be correlated to the delayed gastric emptying rate induced by the fiber (r(s) = 0.92, P < 0.01).