Glycaemic profile and insulin response after consuming triticale flakes

Daily intake of cereal fibre reduces incidence and progression of metabolic diseases. Very little is known on how triticale (Triticosecale) influences human health and its role in regulating carbohydrate metabolism. The aim of the study was to investigate glycaemic and insulin response in blood after consuming whole grain triticale cereal flakes. A group of twelve healthy, young people, aged from 18 to 30 years participated in the test. The participants in fasted state were given equivalent carbohydrate amounts of triticale cereal and reference food (glucose solution). Postprandial blood glucose and plasma insulin concentrations were measured according to Brouns et al. (2005). Whole grain triticale cereal flakes elicited lower metabolic responses compared to glucose solution. Intake of the triticale cereal flakes induced significantly lower incremental insulin area (iAUC 0-120 min) 1672.9 ± 619.85 than glucose solution 2646.65 ± 1260.56 and showed lower insulinemic indices (II) 68 ± 19.0 (p < 0.05). A low insulin incremental peak was associated with less severe late post-prandial hypoglycaemia. Our study showed that triticale cereal product caused low acute insulinemic response and improved glycaemic profiles, similarly to the rye products studied before. The results also suggested that the triticale cereal flakes could have beneficial appetite regulating properties. Thus, triticale flakes would be a wonderful option for functional breakfast cereal mixtures that might influence course of metabolic syndrome prevention.