This study aims to evaluate the effect of pre-meal intake of a FJ on postprandial blood glucose response and satiety level in women with overweight.
This was a double-blind crossover trial with a one-week washout period. Sixteen female adults aged between 20 and 60 years were randomly assigned to one of two intervention sequences: FJ followed by control jelly (CF) or CF followed by FJ. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to analyse the effects of the intervention, time, and time-intervention interaction. Comparisons of outcomes between the two conditions were conducted using one-tailed paired t-tests. A p-value of below 0.05 was considered significant. SPSS version 21 was used to perform all statistical analyses.
After adjustment for sequence and baseline values, treatment condition did not significantly affect postprandial blood glucose or most satiety outcomes (all p > 0.05). Time significantly affected blood glucose and satiety responses (p < 0.001). A significant treatment x time interaction was observed only for VAS fullness; this result should be interpreted cautiously because of the pilot sample size and multiple repeated comparisons. A significant difference was found at 120 min in VAS appetite and prospective food intake.
Further studies with larger samples are needed to confirm the present finding to allow randomization to balance out potential confounding factors. Beyond a larger sample, future studies should control menstrual-cycle phase, prior diet, sleep and physical activity. Moreover, future studies may directly measure mechanistic markers (insulin, GLP-1, gastric emptying), quantify the anthocyanin and pectin content of the jelly and extend observation beyond two hours to capture later appetite effects.
As a pilot study, these findings are preliminary. The transient differences observed for appetite measures are worth testing in a larger crossover trial before recommending pre-meal fibre jelly to manage postprandial glucose or appetite in women with overweight.
These preliminary findings require confirmation in larger, adequately powered crossover trials before pre-meal fibre jelly can be recommended for glycaemic or appetite management.
This pilot study found that pre-meal FJ consumption did not significantly affect overall postprandial blood glucose levels and satiety among overweight women but may have a transient effect on those parameters.
