Effect of the consumption of a fibrous extract of stevia rebaudiana stems on glycemia

Abstract

Introduction: The postprandial state is the period following the consumption of food; Glycemia and postprandial dyslipidemia is the variation in plasma glucose and lipid concentrations, respectively, after meals. Scientific evidence shows that there is a correlation between the abnormal postprandial state in the development of atherosclerosis. Stevia stems (Stevia rebaudiana) are a good source of bioactive compounds such as dietary fiber, which could be used to develop functional foods to regulate energy intake and reduce intestinal absorption of nutrients such as glucose and lipids. Objective: To evaluate the effect of the ingestion of a fibrous extract of Stevia rebaudiana stems on postprandial glycemia levels in healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional, experimental research, carried out with ethical conditions of consent and reliability, in the Laboratory for the Evaluation of Nutritional Status of the Autonomous University of Carmen. For the clinical and anthropometric assessment of the participants, a medical history and body composition scan were used, respectively. The study population consisted of 16 healthy women with normal body mass indices (20-25 kg / m2). Instruments: a) Clinical-dietetic record and b) Biochemical data obtained from blood sampling obtained at different times. The data analysis was carried out with descriptive statistics. Results: The glycemic response was significant; Before consumption, the mean of the reference food was 89mg / DL at minute 15; with the fibrous extract it was lower (84mg / DL), and at 120 minutes it was 129mg / DL (reference food), and 97mg / DL (fibrous extract) Conclusions: The results obtained in this study validate and provide scientific information about the benefit of the consumption of dietary fiber in the diet, its ingestion favors the glycemic response in healthy individuals, compared to reference foods. Keywords: Stevia rebaudiana.; Dietary fiber; fibrous extract; postprandial