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Background: The contemporary American diet figures centrally in the pathogenesis of numerous chronic diseases--'diseases of civilization'. We investigated in humans whether a diet similar to that consumed by our preagricultural hunter-gatherer ancestors (that is, a paleolithic type diet) confers health benefits. Methods: We performed an outpatient, metabolically controlled study, in nine nonobese sedentary healthy volunteers, ensuring no weight loss by daily weight. We compared the findings when the participants consumed their usual diet with those when they consumed a paleolithic type diet. The participants consumed their usual diet for 3 days, three ramp-up diets of increasing potassium and fiber for 7 days, then a paleolithic type diet comprising lean meat, fruits, vegetables and nuts, and excluding nonpaleolithic type foods, such as cereal grains, dairy or legumes, for 10 days. Outcomes included arterial blood pressure (BP); 24-h urine sodium and potassium excretion; plasma glucose and insulin areas under the curve (AUC) during a 2 h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); insulin sensitivity; plasma lipid concentrations; and brachial artery reactivity in response to ischemia. Results: Compared with the baseline (usual) diet, we observed (a) significant reductions in BP associated with improved arterial distensibility (-3.1 [+ or -] 2.9, P = 0.01 and + 0.19 [+ or -] 0.23, P = 0.05);(b) significant reduction in plasma insulin vs time AUC, during the OGTT (P=0.006); and (c) large significant reductions in total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and triglycerides (-0.8 [+ or -] 0.6 (P = 0.007), -0.7 [+ or -] 0.5 (P = 0.003) and -0.3 [+ or -] 0.3 (P = 0.01) mmol/l respectively). In all these measured variables, either eight or all nine participants had identical directional responses when switched to paleolithic type diet, that is, near consistently improved status of circulatory, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism/physiology. Conclusions: Even short-term consumption of a paleolithic type diet improves BP and glucose tolerance, decreases insulin secretion, increases insulin sensitivity and improves lipid profiles without weight loss in healthy sedentary humans. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2009.4; published online 11 February 2009 Keywords: paleolithic diet; blood pressure; glucose tolerance; insulin sensitivity; lipids, Introduction In 1985, anthropologists Eaton and Konner (1985) introduced the general medical community in 'paleolithic nutrition. A consideration of its nature and current implications'. 'Paleolithic' refers to the period of [...]

Background/Objective: Early insulin secretion following a meal is representative for normal physiology and may depend on meal composition. To compare the effects of a fat-rich and a carbohydrate-rich mixed meal on insulinogenic index as a measure of early insulin secretion in normoglycemic women (NGM) and in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), and to assess the relationship of anthropometric and metabolic factors with insulinogenic index. Subjects/Methods: Postmenopausal women, 76 with NGM and 64 with DM2, received a fat-rich meal and a carbohydrate-rich meal on separate occasions. Early insulin response was estimated as insulinogenic index ([DELTA][insulin.sub.0-30 min]/ [DELTA][glucose.sub.0-30 min]) for each meal. Associations of fasting and postprandial triglycerides, body mass index, waist and hip circumference and alanine aminotransferase with insulinogenic indices were determined. Results: Women with NGM present with higher insulinogenic index than women with DM2. The insulinogenic index following the fat-rich meal ([DELTA][l.sub.30]/[DELTA][G.sub.30] (fat)) was higher than the index following the carbohydrate-rich meal ([DELTA][l.sub.3]/[DELTA][G.sub.30] (CH)) (P < 0.05 in women with DM2, and not significant in women with NGM). In women with DM2, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance was positively associated with [DELTA][l.sub.30]/ [DELTA][G.sub.30] (CH). In women with NGM, waist circumference was independently and inversely associated with [DELTA][l.sub.30]/[DELTA][G.sub.30] (fat) and with [DELTA][l.sub.30]/[DELTA][G.sub.30] (CH); hip circumference was positively associated with [DELTA][l.sub.30]/[DELTA][G.sub.30] (fat). Conclusions: The insulinogenic index following the fat-rich meal was higher than following the isocaloric carbohydrate-rich meal, which might favorably affect postprandial glucose excursions, especially in women with DM2. The association between a larger waist circumference and a lower meal-induced insulinogenic index in women with NGM requires further mechanistic studies. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602953; published online 7 November 2007 Keywords: carbohydrates; fat; hyperglycemia; insulin secretion; postprandial glucose regulation; type 2 diabetes, Introduction Insulin resistance and a decline in [beta]-cell function contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) (Weyer et al., 1999; Festa et al., 2006). Especially impairment of [...]

Objective: Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a decreased risk of type II diabetes. This study investigates the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on adipokines and insulin sensitivity. Subjects: Twenty healthy, lean (body mass index (BMI) 18.5-25 kg/ [m.sup.2] ; n=11) or overweight (BMI>27kg/[m.sup.2]; n=9) men (18-25 years). Methods: Three cans of beer (40g alcohol) or alcohol-free beer daily during 3 weeks. Results: Adiponectin and ghrelin concentrations increased (P Conclusions: Moderate alcohol consumption increased adiponectin and ghrelin, while it decreased ASP concentrations both in lean and overweight men. These changes are in line with the hypothesized improvement of insulin sensitivity, but did not affect insulin sensitivity within 3 weeks of moderate alcohol consumption. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602821; published online 6 June 2007 Keywords: moderate alcohol consumption; adiponectin; leptin; acylation-stimulating protein; insulin sensitivity, Introduction Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a decreased risk of type 11 diabetes (Koppes et al., 2005), which could be explained by improved insulin sensitivity after moderate alcohol consumption [...]

Objective: To evaluate the impact of an extruded muesli product based on [beta]-glucan-rich oat bran on postprandial glycaemia and insulinaemia. Subject/Design: The study is divided in two series. Blood glucose [...]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate, under the same experimental conditions and in the same subjects, the effects of ispaghula husk and guar gum on postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations in healthy female subjects. Design: An oral glucose load with and without fiber was administered in the morning after an overnight fast. The study of the fiber effect was planned according to a randomized and cross-over design. Setting: The study was performed at the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Nursing at the University of Leon (Spain). Subjects: Ten healthy female volunteers aged 30-48 y with normal body mass indices participated in this study. Results: A significant decrease in mean serum insulin concentrations was observed from 30 to 90 min in the presence of both fibers. The area under the insulin curve was significantly reduced by 36.1% for ispaghula husk and 39.4% for guar gum. The area under the glucose curve was reduced by 11.1% (significant difference) for ispaghula husk and 2.6% for guar gum (no significant difference). Conclusions: According to the results obtained in this study, the administration of ispaghula husk may be beneficial due to its ability to reduce glucose postprandial concentration and especially insulin requirements. Individualization of the treatment would be advisable due to large individual variations observed in glycemic and insulinemic postprandial responses. Descriptors: dietary fiber; ispaghula husk; guar gum; glucose; insulin; healthy female volunteers European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 235-243, Introduction In the 1970s, Burkitt and Trowell (1975) proposed the dietary fiber hypothesis, linking low fiber intake to high incidence of diabetes, colon cancer, coronary heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and [...]