A blended- rather than whole-lentil meal with or without α-galactosidase mildly increases healthy adults' appetite but not their glycemic response

Abstract

Background: Disrupting the physical structure of pulses by blending them or by using a digestive supplement (α-galactosidase) to reduce intestinal discomfort could potentially negate the previously observed beneficial effects of whole pulses of lowering appetitive and glycemic responses because of more rapid digestion.

Objective: We hypothesized that blended lentils, α-galactosidase, or both increase postprandial appetite and blood glucose responses vs. whole lentils.

Methods: Men and women [n = 12; means ± SDs body mass index (kg/m(2)): 23.3 ± 3.1; aged 28 ± 10 y] consumed breakfast meals containing whole (W), blended (B), or no lentils [control (C)], each with 3 α-galactosidase or placebo capsules in a randomized, crossover, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Between each test day there was a 3- to 5-d washout period.

Results: Mixed-model ANOVA showed effects of meal on postprandial appetite and glucose (P = 0.0001-0.031). The B meal resulted in higher postprandial appetite ratings than did the W meal but not the C meal for hunger, desire to eat, and prospective consumption (Δ = 0.4-0.5 points; P = 0.002-0.044). Postprandial glucose concentration was 4.5 mg/dL lower for the B meal than for the C meal (P < 0.0001) but did not differ from the W meal. There were no main effects of α-galactosidase, but there were meal × α-galactosidase interaction effects, with a greater postprandial desire to eat and lower postprandial fullness with the B meal than with the 2 other meals in the placebo condition but not in the α-galactosidase condition.

Conclusions: Blending lentils increased appetite (∼6%), but not glycemic response, compared with whole lentils, whereas α-galactosidase did not. Both B and W meals may be consumed (with or without an α-galactosidase supplement) with little impact on appetite, without increasing glycemic response. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02110511.

Keywords: Lentils; appetite; glucose; humans; α-galactosidase.

Conflict of interest statement

Author disclosures: KO-B Anguah, BS Wonnell, WW Campbell, GP McCabe, and MA McCrory, no conflicts of interest.

© 2014 American Society for Nutrition.

Figures

FIGURE 1

Appetite responses [hunger (A, D); desire to eat (B, E); fullness (C, F)] of participants consuming B, W, or C burritos with α-gal or placebo capsules. Values are least-square means ± SEMs (A, B, and C) with corresponding changes over time (D, E, and F), n = 12. Letters above the bars represent pooled meal means, whereas those below the bars represent the individual meal/supplement means. Labeled means without a common letter differ, P < 0.05. All analyses were controlled for fasting value and visit order. B, blended lentil; C, control (no lentil); W, whole lentil; α-gal, α-galactosidase.

FIGURE 2

Glucose responses of participants consuming B, W, or C burritos with α-gal or placebo capsules. Values are least-square means ± SEMs (A) with corresponding changes over time (B), n = 12. Letters above the bars represent pooled meal means, whereas those below the bars represent the individual meal/supplement means. Labeled means without a common letter differ, P < 0.05. All analyses were controlled for fasting value and visit order. B, blended lentil; C, control (no lentil); W, whole lentil; α-gal, α-galactosidase.