Chitin-glucan supplementation boosts glycaemic response after meals

By favourably altering the gut microbiota, chitin-glucan (CG) supplements can help improve postprandial glycaemic response, a recent study has found.

Researchers conducted a double-blind, randomized, cross-over trial including 15 individuals (mean age 44 years, nine men) deemed to be at cardiometabolic risk. CG or a maltodextrin control was given daily at 4.5-g doses. Metabolism was assessed through postprandial glycaemic and lipidaemic profiles, and exhaled gases. The impact of CG on gut microbiota was also measured through 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Compared with controls, 3-week supplementation with CG led to an increase in the incremental area under the curve (iAUC) of postprandial exhaled hydrogen gas by 722 ppm.min. Meanwhile, CG reduced the iAUC of postprandial glycaemia by 60 mM.min, of triglyceridaemia by 35 mM.min, and of the peak of triglyceridaemia by 0.55 mM (p<0.05 for all).

Moreover, gut microbiota composition was substantially altered after the supplementation regimen, characterized by a significant decrease in Actinobacteria and an increase in Erysipelotrichaceae UCG.003, Ruminococcaceae UCG.005, and the Eubacterium ventriosum group.

“The improvement in the postprandial glycaemic and lipaemic profiles, early determining markers of cardiometabolic risk, underlies the interest of such dietary intervention in this specific at-risk population,” the researchers said.

“Further investigations are needed to confirm these observations and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of CG on cardiometabolic profile in subjects at cardiometabolic risk,” they added.