Modulation of blood insulin & glucose level (glycemic effect)

Diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus) is a disease of the carbohydrate metabolism, where Diabetes Type 2 is a symptomatic and often not detected form of it. The main characteristic of diabetes is a high blood sugar level caused by insufficient insulin, resistance to insulin, or both. The main recommendations to prevent this disease are different forms of dietary changes in order to lose weight and to lower the cholesterol levels.

β-glucan has an effect on cholesterol regulation that it may regulate blood insulin and glucose absorption by slowing the absorption rate of sugars from the food, because of the high viscosity. Further effects of ß-glucan include reduction in postprandial glucose and insulin levels. ß-glucan taken in a meal increases the viscosity of the meal bolus once it has reached the small intestine, where absorption of glucose occurs, which delays absorption of the glucose. The reduction in postprandial glucose and insulin level shows important and beneficial effects in diabetes patients. This effect is also well-documented in scientific literature.