Glucose and hormonal response to nutrition bars that differ in glycemic index and load Glucose and hormone response to nutrition bars

The purpose of this study was to examine the metabolic and hormonal responses to commercially available nutrition bars that differed in glycemic index and load. Three randomized conditions were matched for either carbohydrate content and/or caloric intake but differed in glycemic index and load. The results showed that a similar blood glucose concentration was achieved in each experimental trial despite differences in glycemic index or load. However, the nutrition bar with the lowest glycemic index and load resulted in the lowest insulin and highest glucagon concentration in serum during the postprandial period. Non-esterified fatty acids were lowest in the fasted state and with the moderate glycemic index and high load condition. Thus, for the same or lower amount of carbohydrate intake, the nutrition bar with the lowest glycemic index and load produced similar post prandial blood glucose responses to those of a higher glycemic index and load but this occurred as a result of significantly different gluco-regulatory and counter-regulatory hormone responses.