Effect of muesli with 4 g oat beta-glucan on postprandial blood glucose, gastric emptying and satiety in healthy subjects: a randomized crossover trial.

OBJECTIVE: Products enriched with oat beta-glucan have been shown to reduce postprandial glucose and insulinemic responses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an extruded muesli product based on oat beta-glucan on the rate of gastric emptying, postprandial blood glucose and satiety in healthy subjects.

METHODS: Gastric emptying rate (GER) was measured by standardized real-time ultrasonography. Twelve healthy subjects were assessed using a randomized crossover double blind trial. The meals were administered after 8 hours' fasting after measuring the subject's normal fasting blood glucose level. Blood glucose measurements were made before, 30 and 60 min after the end of the meal. Satiety scores were estimated 15 and 90 min after the end of the meal. The GER was calculated as the percentage change in the antral cross-sectional area 15 and 90 minutes after ingestion of vanilla yoghurt with muesli containing 4 g oat beta-glucan (GER1) or vanilla yoghurt with muesli containing cornflakes (GER2).

RESULTS: The median values were 60% for GER1 and 44% for GER2. The effect of 4 g oat beta-glucan on the rate of gastric emptying was not statistically significant compared with corn flakes. Muesli with 4 g oat beta-glucan lowered the postprandial glucose response significantly compared to the cornflakes meal (p = 0.045). The effect of oat beta-glucan on satiety was not statistically significantly.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that intake of muesli with 4 g oat beta-glucan does not affect the gastric emptying rate or satiety but lowers the postprandial blood glucose response, indicating that the GER does not regulate the blood glucose level.