The effect of chewing a sugar-free gum after oatmeal on the postprandial glycaemia – a cross-over study

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Lea Vuletić
• Author: Marija Klaić
• Author: Stjepan Špalj
• Author: Kristina Peroš
• Author's institution: Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine
• Author's institution: University of Rijeka; Faculty of Medicine; (Department of Orthodontics)
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Dental Medicine; (Chair of Pharmacology)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Dental Medicine

Abstract (english)

Background and Aims: Gum chewing after a meal stimulates salivation and may affect the motility of the gastrointestinal tract and the release of hormones through neural mechanisms. This study was conducted to assess if chewing a sugar-free gum for 20 min following a meal, as recommended for dental caries prevention, influences the postprandial blood glucose levels in a period of one hour. Materials and Methods: For each of 18 participants blood glucose profile was made by measuring capillary glucose concentration in 10-min intervals within one hour following: a) chewing a sugar- free gum, b) the consumption of an oatmeal, c) chewing a sugar-free gum after the consumption of an oatmeal. Results: No statistically significant differences were found in the glycaemic response following complex carbohydrate ingestion when a gum was chewed after a meal. Conclusions: The possible influence of gum chewing on the postprandial gastrointestinal and metabolic ongoings was not reflected in the postprandial glycaemic response under the conditions of this study. A more comprehensive study which would include more variables related to vagal efferent activity, digestion and metabolism would be needed to assess if chewing sugar-free gums to exploit their caries-protective potential can influence metabolic adaptability to nutritional challenges.

• Keywords (english): dietary carbohydrate metabolism; high carbohydrate meal; mastication; postprandial glucose response; stimulated saliva; sugar-free chewing gums
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review - international
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Romanian journal of diabetes, nutrition and metabolic diseases
• Numbering: vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 127-135
• p-ISSN: 2284-6417
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/rjdnmd-2017-0017
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:127:659201
• Publication: 2017
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2023-10-24 11:41:48