Determination of blood glucose response and glycemic index among young adults after consuming cassavas (Manihot utilisima) and coleus potatoes (Coleus Tuberosus)

Abstract

This randomize cross-over study was carried out to determine the blood glucose response among 12 healthy young adults with normal health in a health status inquiry, normal Body Mass Index (BMI: kg/m2), between 18.5 to 24.9 and non smoking, aged between 20 to 25 years old, after consuming boiled cassavas and boiled coleus potatoes. In this study, subjects need to fast for 10 to 12 hours, and then were asked to eat each test meals and glucose as reference food, at different time within 15 minutes. Finger-prick capillary blood samples were taken at O minute, before consuming test meals and glucose, and then at time 15, 30, 45, 90 and 120 minutes after consuming test meals and glucose. This study showed that boiled coleus potatoes reached the highest peak blood glucose level (5.73±1.03 mmol/L) at time 30 minutes, while for boiled cassavas and glucose the high peak mean blood glucose level at time 45 minutes. Similar with mean blood glucose response, boiled coleus potatoes reached the highest peak blood glucose response (2.35±0.98 mmol/L) at time 30 minutes, followed by boiled cassavas 2.21±1.33 mmol/L and the lowest ones was glucose 1.81±1.06 mmol/L, both reached the high peak at times 45 minutes. Comparison after eating boiled cassavas and boiled coleus potatoes between gender showed that male did not differ significantly with female. Boiled cassavas and boiled coleus potatoes have very high glycemic index compare to glucose. Glycemic index for boiled cassavas was 103 while for boiled coleus potatoes was 111. To maintain good health, make sure that the quantity of this two meals are under control when consuming this two foods.