Effects of Mode of Administration of Soluble Fibre Blend on Glycemia, Appetite & Sensory Parameters

Soluble, viscous fibre has been established as an effective dietary component for lowering postprandial glycemia and promoting satiety. The effectiveness of viscous fibre has been related to its ability to increase the viscosity of the intra-luminal contents of the small intestine. Hence, the proposed mechanism with which soluble fibre affects the glycemic response, dependent on the viscosity development in the gut, would require that soluble fibre be extractable from the food matrix. This, in part, may be dependent on the food matrix that the soluble fibre is incorporated in. While properties of soluble fibre and their physiological effects have been studied extensively, limited data exists on the most effective mode of administration of fibre to optimize benefits. Furthermore, there are no studies to date that have evaluated how different modes of highly viscous soluble fibre would affect the subsequent meal. Hence, we propose a research study to determine whether the form of administration, taking into consideration the carbohydrate availability of a viscous fibre blend supplement, has a significant impact on postprandial and second meal glycemic response and subjective satiety in healthy individuals.