Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Half of subjects following a low-calorie dietary program cannot tolerate its nutritional restrictions and abandon it. A realistic approach to overcome this obstacle is the addition of low glycaemic index (GI), low glycaemic load (GL) snacks in their nutrition. Stevia, a potent, low calorie natural sweetener exerts anti-hyperglycaemic and insulinotropic activities. Furthermore, Vitamin D deficiency may affect diabetes development in the long run.

Aim: To assess a new bioactive, low GI/ low GL product, based on stevia glycosides and fortified with vitamins A and D, regarding metabolic/hormonal profile and the compliance of subjects undergoing a hypocaloric nutritional approach.

Methods: A 4-month controlled, prospective trial in healthy subjects (n=80) and prediabetics (n=39). 119 overweight/obese subjects were enrolled and given the same hypocaloric nutritional approach and the choice of either a stevia snack consumption (4/week, n=60) or the consumption of a personal choice dessert (1/week, n=59).

Results: In all groups, a significant weight loss was observed (P<0.05). In healthy subjects waist circumference, insulin, and HOMA index were significantly improved, irrespectively of the method of intervention (P<0.05). In prediabetics, insulin, HbA1c, HOMA index, CRP, and vitamin D levels were ameliorated only in the stevia group. The attrition rate was similar between groups (~8%), but the majority of the stevia group suggested that they preferred this approach.

Conclusions: The consumption of low GI, low GL snacks based on stevia and fortified with vitamin D, increases compliance in subjects following a nutritional programme and exerts a beneficial role on the metabolic/hormonal profile of people with prediabetes.

Disclosure: This work was supported by the Greek and Chinese General Secretariat for Research and Technology (grant number: 12CHN156).