The RepEAT Study: Individual Differences in Postprandial Glucose Responses and the Relation With Diet and Phenotype

Postprandial glucose responses are related to an increased risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases. Existing research recognizes the presence of inter-individual variation in postprandial glucose responses to the same meal or food product. However, the role of diet and phenotype in postprandial glucose responses is unclear. The primary objective of this study is to determine the variation in postprandial glucose responses to the same meals/food products and how this relates to the variation in postprandial glucose responses over a 9-week fully controlled dietary intervention within and between individuals. Our secondary objectives are to investigate the difference between postprandial glucose responses to original products and postprandial glucose responses to reformulated products, and to examine the relation between postprandial glucose responses and short-term well-being. In addition, we aim to study the relation between variation in postprandial glucose and phenotype, including immune function, cognitive performance, and microbiota composition. 63 apparently healthy men and women with a BMI of 25-40 kg/m2, aged 45-75 years will be included in the study, comprising a characterization period of 3 weeks and a completely controlled dietary intervention of 9 weeks. During these 9 weeks, glucose will be continuously monitored to measure postprandial glucose responses to standard foods/meals. There are minor risks for the research subjects of this study. Research subjects will invest approximately 85 hours in the study. During the characterization week, subjects will visit the Wageningen University 3 times and Hospital Gelderse Vallei (Ede, The Netherlands) once. During the controlled dietary intervention, subjects will visit the Wageningen University 2-3 times a week.