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Defines and discusses preharvest sprouting of wheat, which leads to lower crop yields. Suggests a few management options to minimize impact.

Diabetes is a life-long chronic disease that affects more than 24 million Americans. Loss of pancreatic beta-cell mass and function is central to the development of both type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Therefore, preservation or regeneration of functional beta-cell mass is one of the essential strategies to treat diabetes [1]. In my study, I tested if ranolazine, a synthetic compound, has potential to prevent or treat diabetes. Diabetes were induced in mice by giving multiple low-doses of streptozotocin (STZ). Ranolazine was given twice daily via an oral gavage (20 mg/kg) for 5 weeks. blood levels of glucose, insulin, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured. Glucose tolerance test was performed in control and treated mice. pancreatic tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin or stained with insulin antibody for islet mass evaluation. INS1-832/13 cells and human islets were further used to evaluate the effect of ranalozine on beta-cell survival and related signaling pathway. Fasting blood glucose levels after the fourth week of STZ injections were lower in ranolazine treated group (199.1 mg/dl) compared to the vehicle group (252.1 mg/dl) (p

Both in type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), the deterioration of glycemic control over time is primarily caused by an inadequate mass and progressive dysfunction of ?-cells, leading to the impaired insulin secretion. Thus, the search for agents to protect b-cell and enhance its function is important for diabetes treatment. Studies have reported that baicalein, a flavone originally isolated from the roots of Chinese herb Scutellaria baicalensis, has various claimed beneficial effects on health, such as anti-oxidant, anti-viral, anti-thrombotic, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, it is unclear whether it exerts an anti-diabetic action. Here, we present evidence that baicalein may be a novel anti-diabetic agent. Specifically, dietary intake of baicalein significantly improved hyperglycemia, glucose tolerance, and blood insulin levels in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed middle-aged diabetic mice, which was associated with the improved isle t?-cell survival and mass. Baicalein treatment had no effect on food intake, body weight gain, circulating lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in HFD-fed mice. In in-vitro studies, baicalein significantly augmented glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in insulin-secreting cells (INS1) and promotes viability of INS1 cells and human islets. These results demonstrate that baicalein may be a naturally occurring anti-diabetic agent by directly modulating pancreatic?-cell function. Master of Science

Teff (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.)) is an annual, warm-season cereal crop most notable for its gluten-free, nutrient-packed seed. Experiments were conducted in two regions of Virginia (Blacksburg and Steeles Tavern) in 2010 and 2011 to determine the grain production potential of two teff varieties (brown and white). Additionally, commercially purchased teff flour was evaluated for its suitability in producing a satisfactory baked product. Teff varieties were planted in early June and July at a seeding rate of 6 kg PLS ha??. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied at planting in the form of urea at a rate of 56 kg ha??. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a two-way factorial treatment structure (variety and planting date) and four replications. Grain yield and nutritive value, straw yield and quality, and plant height were evaluated for each variety and planting date at Steeles Tavern in 2010. Due to failure in crop establishment and difficulties involved in threshing and processing the harvested crop, no data is available in 2010 or 2011 for Kentland or in 2011 for Steeles Tavern. In 2010 at Steeles Tavern, grain yield was significantly higher for the brown variety (367 kg ha??) compared to the white variety (97 kg ha??) for both planting dates. There was no significant difference in straw yield between varieties or planting dates with straw yield averaging 2645 and 2475 kg DM ha?? for brown and white varieties, respectively. Precipitation accumulation at Steeles Tavern was higher in 2010 (greater than 10 cm) during June and July compared to 2011 and the historic average. This may explain why the plots in 2010 were able to successfully establish and out compete weeds. In the lab, four types of baked products were tested to determine the suitability of teff for baked goods. Cakes, cookies, biscuits and bread were tested with varying treatments of teff: control (100% wheat flour) and 10, 20, 30, 40 and 100% teff flour. Each treatment was replicated three times for each product. Generally, bread and cake volumes decreased as the percent of teff increased. Teff flour was best suited for use in cookie and biscuit products compared to cakes and breads since cookies and biscuits require less leavening. Overall, both experiments (field and laboratory) demonstrated the potential of teff as an alternative grain crop in Virginia. However, additional research is needed to overcome problems associated with establishment, harvest, threshing and processing. Master of Science

Diabetes is growing public health problem in the United States. Both in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, the deterioration of glycemic control over time is largely due to insulin secretory dysfunction and significant loss of functional β-cells. As such, the search for novel agents that promote β-cell survival and preserve functional β-cell mass are one of the essential strategies to prevent and treat the onset of diabetes. Genistein, a flavonoid in legumes and some herbal medicines, has various biological actions. It was recently shown that dietary intake of foods containing genistein improves diabetes in both experimental animals and humans. However, the potential anti-diabetic mechanisms of genistein are unclear. In the present study, we first investigated the effect of genistein on β-cell insulin secretion and proliferation and cellular signaling related to these effects in vitro and in vivo. We then determined its anti-diabetic potential in insulin-deficient and obese diabetic mouse models. The results in our study showed that exposure of clonal insulin secreting (INS1E) cells or isolated pancreatic islets to genistein at physiologically relevant concentrations (1-10 μM) enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), whereas insulin content was not altered, suggesting that genistein-enhanced GSIS is not due to a modulation of insulin synthesis. This genistein's effect is protein tyrosine kinase- and KATP channel-independent. In addition, genistein had no effect on glucose transporter-2 expression or cellular ATP production, but similarly augmented pyruvate-stimulated insulin secretion in INS1E cells, indicating that genistein improvement of insulin secretion in β-cells is not related to an alternation in glucose uptake or the glycolytic pathway. Further, genistein (1-10 μM) induced both INS1 and human islet β-cell proliferation following 24 h of incubation, with 5 μM genistein inducing a maximal 27% increase. The effect of genistein on β-cell proliferation was neither dependent on estrogen receptors, nor shared by 17β-estradiol or a host of structurally related flavonoid compounds. Pharmacological or molecular intervention of PKA or ERK1/2 completely abolished genistein-stimulated β-cell proliferation, suggesting that both molecules are essential for genistein action. Consistent with its effect on cell proliferation, genistein induced cAMP/PKA signaling and subsequent phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in both INS1 cells and human islets. Furthermore, genistein induced protein expression of cyclin D1, a major cell-cycle regulator essential for β-cell growth. Dietary intake of genistein significantly improved hyperglycemia, glucose tolerance, and blood insulin levels in both insulin deficient type 1 and obese type 2 diabetic mice, concomitant with improved islet β-cell proliferation, survival, and mass. These changes were not due to alternations in animal body weight gain, food intake, fat deposit, plasma lipid profile, or peripheral insulin sensitivity. Collectively, these findings provide better understanding of the mechanism underlying the anti-diabetic effects of genistein. Loss of functional β-cell mass through apoptosis is central to the development of both T1D and T2D and islet β-cell preservation and regeneration are very important components of β-cell adaptation to increased apoptosis and insulin resistance and therefore holds promise as a treatment for this disease. In this context, these findings may potentially lead to the development of novel low-cost natural agents for prevention and treatment of diabetes. Ph. D.

Rationale: Published studies have shown that immigrants undergo dietary acculturation which may have positive or negative impact on their health. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate this critical issue of dietary acculturation and any possible influence on the health status of newly arrived international students at Virginia Tech in Fall 2010. Design: In this study weight, fasting blood glucose and blood pressure of 35 international students (age 18-36 years) were determined at three time points, 5-6 weeks apart. Participants filled out a 20-item-questionnaire addressing alteration in the native and American dietary habits. Furthermore, 24 hrs dietary recalls and frequency of consuming the most popular food items in the US was assessed. Results: Total sample population (TSP) had a significant increase in average weight by 2.79 lbs from visit 1 (V1) to visit 3 (V3) (p=0.0082), Participants who gained weight (PGW; n=10) had an average increase by 9 lbs. Country wise, Chinese had a statistically significant average increase in their weights by 4.16 lbs (p=0.0077) whereas, Indians and Germans had an average increase by 2.36 lbs and 1.28 lbs respectively. Gender wise, the average increase in weight for females was 3.99 lbs (p=0.0015) while for males 1.52 lbs from V1 to V3. There were no significant differences in total caloric consumption from V1 to V3 for both groups of international students. There were no significant changes in the fasting blood glucose and systolic blood pressure from V1 to V3. There was an increase in frequency of consuming high calorie American food items in V3 when compared with V1. Frequency of burger consumption was highly increased in the TSP group while bagels were significantly increased in PGW group. There was an overall increasing trend towards American diet, cooking and eating habits. Finally, we conclude that the international students are gradually acculturating to the American diet and have impact on their weight which may potentially have a negative impact on their health status. Future studies and orientation program catered to the needs of adjusting to acculturation process of international students are recommended. Master of Science

The incidence of type 2 diabetes is considered an epidemic in Western countries, and its prevalence is more common in the Hispanic population than in non-Hispanic whites. Postprandial hyperglycemia has been associated with oxidative stress (OS), thus; reducing postprandial glycemia and/or OS through dietary consumption of resistant starch (RS) may be one approach to help modulate glucose and insulin responses. The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to evaluate the physicochemical and sensory properties of cereal food products supplemented with RS. 2) to compare the effects of a single ingestion of granola bars with high (~18 grams of RS) and low (~0 grams of RS) RS compositions on the postprandial glucose and insulin responses (n=14) and oxidative stress parameters (cellular glutathione peroxidase, F2- isoprostanes, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity) in Hispanic women (n=9). Granola bars and cereals were developed to provide 2 levels (10% and 15%) of RS; isocaloric (0% RS) control samples were prepared with readily digestible (high amylopectin) starch. Samples were stored for up to 4 weeks at 20 °C. Mean composition of the high RS granola bars was 6% protein, 15% moisture, and 18% lipid. RS levels slightly increased from 14 to 16 g/serving after 4 weeks of storage, supporting published research that RS increases with storage due to retrogradation and crystallization of amylose chains. Color became lighter as the level of RS increased (p

In this study, the hydrolytic kinetics of mixtures of cotton gin waste (CGW) and recycled paper sludge (RPS) at various initial enzyme concentrations of Spezyme AO3117 and Novozymes NS50052 was investigated. The experiments showed that the concentrations of reducing sugars and the conversions of the mixtures increased with increasing initial enzyme concentration. The reducing sugar concentration and conversion of the mixture of 75% CGW and 25% RPS were higher than those of the mixture of 80% CGW and 20% RPS. The conversion of the former could reach 73.8% after a 72-hour hydrolysis at the initial enzyme loading of 17.4 Filter Paper Unit (FPU)/g substrate. A three-parameter kinetic model with convergent property based on enzyme deactivation and its analytical expression were derived. Using nonlinear regression, the parameters of the model were determined from the experimental data of hydrolytic kinetics of the mixtures. Based on this kinetic model of hydrolysis, two profit rate models, representing two kinds of operating modes with and without substrate recycling, were developed. Using the profit rate models, the optimal enzyme loading and hydrolytic time could be predicted for the maximum profit rate in ethanol production according to the costs of enzyme and operation, enzyme loading, and ethanol market price. Simulated results from the models based on the experimental data of hydrolysis of the mixture of 75% CGW and 25% RPS showed that use of a high substrate concentration and an operating mode with feedstock recycle could greatly increase the profit rate of ethanol production. The results also demonstrated that the hydrolysis at a low enzyme loading was economically required for systematic optimization of ethanol production. The development of profit rate model points out a way to optimize a monotonic function with variables, such as enzyme loading and hydrolytic time for the maximum profit rate. The study also investigated the ethanol production from the steam-exploded mixture of 75 wt% cotton gin waste and 25 wt% recycled paper sludge at various influencing factors, such as enzyme concentration, substrate concentration, and severity factor, by a novel operating mode: semi-simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSSF) consisting of a pre-hydrolysis and a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). Four cases were studied: 24-hour pre-hydrolysis + 48-hour SSF (SSSF 24), 12-hour pre-hydrolysis + 60-hour SSF (SSSF 12), 72-hour SSF, and 48-hour hydrolysis + 12-hour fermentation (SHF). SSSF 24 produced higher ethanol concentration, yield, and productivity than the other operating modes. The higher temperature of steam explosion favored of ethanol production, but the higher initial enzyme concentration could not increase the final ethanol concentration though the hydrolytic rate of the substrate was increased. A mathematical model of SSSF, which consisted of an enzymatic hydrolysis model and a SSF model including four ordinary differential equations that describe the changes of cellobiose, glucose, microorganism, and ethanol concentrations with respect to residence time, was developed, and was used to simulate the data for the four components in the SSSF processes of ethanol production from the mixture. The model parameters were determined by a MATLAB program based on the batch experimental data of the SSSF. The analysis to the reaction rates of cellobiose, glucose, cell, and ethanol using the model and the parameters from the experiments showed that the conversion of cellulose to cellobiose was a rate-controlling step in the SSSF process of ethanol production from cellulose. Ph. D.

High pre-harvest rainfall in 2006 caused significant pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) and weathering throughout the mid-Atlantic soft red winter wheat (SRWW) (Triticum aestivum L.) growing region. Sprouting and weathering caused decreased flour quality due to lowered dough viscosity and decreased ability to withstand mixing and processing for baked goods. Due to its decreased quality, severely sprouted grain is sold for feed, at a lower price per bushel. Pre-harvest sprouting negatively affects the chain of production from the field to baking operations. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the inherent dormancy and PHS resistance, of current SRWW cultivars and to assess the relationship between falling number and flour quality after grain weathering. Employing a weighted germination index (WGI), a large range in dormancy was observed across SRWW cultivars and seed production. Artificial weathering tests confirmed the use of WGI as a tool for screening for dormancy of SRWW cultivars. The WGI consistently identified cultivars with significantly higher or lower inherent dormancy. "Coker 9553" was highly dormant and resistant to PHS. This cultivar maintained an average falling number of 300 seconds even after receiving an average of 215 mm of rainfall, while the mean falling number for all SRWW cultivars after this amount of weathering was 131 seconds. After only moderate weathering, nine of 15 SRWW cultivars in the study exhibited severe sprouting, demonstrating the need for increased PHS resistance in SRWW wheat. Pre-harvest sprouting resistance groupings, based on average 2008 cultivar falling number were accurately predicted by WGI at both 10 (R2=0.79) and 30°C (R2=0.72) No consistent relationship was observed between head angle, glume tenacity or awn length and PHS resistance. Water absorption, dough stability, farinograph arrival and departure times, peak, and 20-minute drop were measured from grain samples with varying degrees of weathering. All parameters were negatively affected by weathering in 2008. Flour quality parameters were more affected by genotype than falling number suggesting that falling number should not be used as the sole indicator of flour quality after grain weathering. It is clear that there are vast differences in dormancy levels and PHS resistance among SRWW cultivars and stronger dormancy and higher resistance to PHS does not automatically ensure higher quality flour. Master of Science

In both Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and Type 2 diabetes (T2D), inadequate beta-cell mass and beta-cell dysfunction lead to impaired insulin secretion, and ultimately worsen glycemic control. Green tea has drawn wide attention due to its possible health-promoting properties, including enhancement of beta-cell function. We assessed the acute and relative long-term effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on insulin secretion and synthesis from clonal beta-cells (INS1E cells), rat islets, and human islets, using 0.1, 1, or 5 µM. We determined if EGCG decreased blood glucose in healthy rats acutely, using 50 or 150 mg/kg body weight (BW), and after 12 days of supplementation in drinking water, using 0.1% and 0.5%. In the in vitro studies, EGCG significantly potentiated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in rat islets (at 0.1, 1, and 5 µM) and human islets (at 1 µM), and elevated insulin content within INS1E cells (at 0.1, 1, and 5 µm) and human islets (at 1 µM), (P

Obesity is a disease characterized by chronic inflammation and the progressive loss in systemic insulin sensitivity. One of the more effective medications in the treatment of insulin resistance have been the thiazolidinediones (TZDs), which act through the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma ). Due to the many side-effects of TZDs, our laboratory sought out a natural phytochemical, abscisic acid (ABA), with chemical similarities to TZDs. Our first study demonstrated that ABA activates PPARgamma in vitro and significantly ameliorates white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation and glucose tolerance in db/db mice. We next further examined the effect of ABA on the phenotype of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs). In doing so, we discovered two separate ATM populations which differed in their expression of the macrophage surface glycoprotein and maturation marker F4/80 (F4/80hi vs F4/80lo). Dietary ABA-supplementation significantly reduced F4/80hiCCR2+ ATMs and had no effect on the F4/80lo population. Utilizing a tissue-specific knockout generated through Cre-lox recombination, we were able to determine that this effect was dependent on PPARgamma in immune cells. To further characterize the differences between the ATM subsets that were affected by ABA, we performed a multi-organ assessment (i.e., WAT, skeletal muscle and liver) of the effect of diet-induced obesity on the phenotype of infiltrating macrophages and T cells into metabolic organs. Based on our new data, we formulated a model by which F4/80hiCCR2hi ATMs infiltrate WAT and ultimately induce a CD11c+ pro-inflammatory phenotype in the resident F4/80loCCR2lo subset. Ultimately, our findings provide evidence that ABA has potential as an alternative preventive intervention, expound the role of PPARgamma in immune cells and, in general, expand our knowledge concerning the immunopathogenesis of obesity-induced insulin resistance. Ph. D.

Soy peroxidase enzyme obtained from isoelectic precipitation procedures was added to all-purpose flour (APF) to assess its effects on the rheological properties and consumer acceptability of yeast bread. A pH 4.8 isoelectrically precipitated fraction from soybeans was used because it produced the most precipitate and had about the same peroxidase activity as the other fractions. Gluten strength was determined using a farinograph for seven treatment groups: control (all-purpose flour), bread flour, all-purpose flour + soy flour, bread flour + soy flour, all purpose flour + pH 4.8 precipitate, all-purpose flour + 15 mg soybean peroxidase, and all-purpose flour + 25 mg soybean peroxidase. Four types of yeast bread were baked for loaf volume determination, texture analysis, and consumer acceptability: a control loaf using only all-purpose flour, a reference loaf using all bread flour, a loaf with all purpose flour + whole soy flour, and a loaf with all-purpose flour + pH 4.8 soy precipitate. The APF+soy flour, bread flour, bread flour + soy flour, and the APF + pH 4.8 precipitate produced an improvement in the gluten strength and mixing tolerance compared to the control (p

The goal of this research is to determine the effects of added soybean lipoxygenase (LOX) on bread dough rheological properties and physical properties of bread loaves compared to controls, and to determine sensory attributes of bread loaves using quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA). Protein fractions were obtained through the use of isoelectric precipitation. The pH 4.8 precipitate was found to yield the greatest LOX activity when compared with other fractions (p

Chloroform methanol (CM) soluble extract of a cereal-based diet has been suggested to induce type 1 diabetes in an experimental animal model of type 1 diabetes. However, the individual constituent of this extract responsible for the disease induction and its disease pathogenesis mechanism remained unexplored. A previous study in our laboratory failed to show that the sphingolipid enriched fraction of CM soluble extract of wheat gluten triggers type 1 diabetes. Therefore, to study the involvement of CM soluble gliadin proteins in type 1 diabetes, we retrospectively analyzed proteins from sphingolipid enriched extract. SDS-PAGE analysis of CM soluble extract of wheat gluten and sphingolipid enriched fraction exhibited protein bands corresponding to the masses of the wheat gliadins, suggesting the presence of gliadin proteins in the CM soluble sphingolipid enriched extract. We studied the effect of five different dietary treatments on the histopathology of pancreatic tissue from BBdp rats includes insulitis scores i.e. lymphocytic infiltration in islet of Langerhans in order to test gliadin specific sphingolipid enriched extract (GSLEE) as possible a diabetogen. However, there were no significant differences in pancreatic insulitis scores and lymphoid tissue content due to addition of (GSLEE) to the hydrolyzed casein (HC) diet. We also investigated changes in jejunal histopathology and sera IFN-γ, TNF-α cytokine concentration in type 1 diabetes, induced by GSLEE. A decrease in jejunal CD4+ and γδ TCR + cell counts and inflammatory cell infiltrate were observed due to presence of CM soluble GSLEE in the HC diet, although this decrease was not statistically significant. A significant increase in sera IFN-γ cytokine concentration was found in BBdp rats fed the HC + GSLEE diet as compared to rats on HC diet. A numerical decrease in sera TNF-α concentration was also observed in BBdp rats fed the HC + GSLEE diet, when compared to BBdp rats on the HC diet. In contrast, a significant increase in serum IFN-γ concentrations in BBdp rats were observed after removing the CM soluble GSLEE from the wheat gluten based diet (WG) when compared to the WG diet alone. Removing GSLEE from WG diet resulted in insignificant increase in serum TNF-α concentration in BBdp rats when compared to WG dietary treatment group's BBdp rats. However, there were no significant differences in jejunal enteropathy parameters (i.e. lymphocytic infiltration, mucosal thickness, epithelial erosion, jejunal villi flattenings), jejunal CD4+ and jejunal γδ TCR+ cell counts; pancreatic insulitis scores, lymphoid tissue content after removing the CM soluble GSLEE from the WG diet when compared to the WG diet. Since overall findings regarding the CM soluble GSLEE's potential to induce type 1 diabetes by changing pancreatic and jejunal histopathology and elevating serum IFN-γ, TNF-α cytokine levels largely remained inconclusive, further investigations are warranted regarding immune suppression potential of the CM soluble sphingolipids in type 1 diabetes and the search of diabetogenic agents remaining in the residue after CM extraction. Master of Science

Background: African-Americans are a vulnerable population group with disproportionately elevated rates of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Resistant starch is a promising food ingredient that has the potential to reduce the risk factors involved in the development of type 2 DM. To date, there is a dearth of published research studies on the effect of resistant starch on African-Americans who are at increased risk for type 2 DM. Objective: The major objective of this study was to determine if daily consumption of approximately twelve grams of high-maize™ 260 resistant starch (RS) added to bread improved glucose homeostasis by monitoring changes in fasting plasma glucose, fructosamine, hemoglobin A1c, insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1, C-reactive protein, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistant (HOMA- IR) and beta-cell function (HOMA-Beta), serum acetate, propionate, and butyrate levels. Design: A fourteen-week, randomized, double-blind, within-subject crossover design feeding study was carried out in African-American males (n=8) and females (n=7) at increased risk for type 2 DM who resided in Southwest Virginia. All participants consumed bread containing added RS or control bread (no added RS) for six-weeks. RS and control bread feedings were separated by a two-week washout period. Results: Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) levels were significantly lower (P = 0.0179) after six-week control bread feedings compared to baseline. FPG levels were also significantly lower (P < 0.0001) after two-week washout period than at baseline. FPG levels were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) after six-week resistant starch bread feeding than at washout. FPG levels due to consumption of resistant starch versus control bread approached significance (P = 0.0574). Fructosamine levels were significantly lower (P = 0.0054) after control bread and resistant starch bread (P < 0.0012) consumption compared to baseline. No significant differences were found in fructosamine levels due to resistant bread intake versus control (P = 0.9692). Mean baseline HbA1c levels were 6.9% (n=15). This value was slightly lowered to 6.79% (n=14) at the end of the fourteen-week study, although statistical significance was not found. Mean ± standard errors for HbA1c values were 6.9% ± 0.18% and 6.9% ± 0.14% at baseline for the sequence groups, resistant starch first (n=7) and control treatment first (n=8) groups, respectively. Mean± standard error HbA1c values were 6.7%± 0.27% and 6.9% ± 0.27% at the conclusion of fourteen-week study for sequence groups, resistant starch first group (n=7) and control treatment first group, respectively. Baseline mean and standard errors C-reactive Protein (CRP) levels for male and female combined results were 0.62 ± 0.16 mg/dL (n=15). Mean CRP levels were 0.53 ± 0.12 mg/dL for resistant starch bread and 0.64 ± 0.21 mg/dL for control bread feeding periods. No significant differences were found for treatment, gender, or sequence effects for C-reactive protein levels during the fourteen-week study (P > 0.05). Mean HOMA-IR levels following six-week resistant starch and control bread consumption decreased to normal values (> 2.5), although no significant differences were found for treatment (P = 0.5923). Conclusions: Eighty-seven grams of Hi- maize™ 260 Resistant Starch added to baked loaves of bread consumed by a free-living African-American population at increased risk for type 2 diabetes did not consistently show significance in all clinical indicators and biochemical markers assessed. On the basis of the evidence in this study we do not have evidence that this amount of resistant starch in this population's diet will prevent the onset of diabetes. However, results are suggestive that higher levels of resistant starch in a more controlled experiment could reduce clinical risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Ph. D.