Amalia E Yanni
Harokopio University, Greece
Title: Dietary supplementation with low fat, low sugar fruit yogurt enriched with vitamin B facilitates body weight management and glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients
Biography
Biography: Amalia E Yanni
Abstract
Statement of the Problem: Intake of yogurt is associated with lower incidence of diabetes mellitus while beneficial effects of vitamin D and Ca fortified yogurt on metabolic regulation of Type 2 Diabetic (T2D) patients have been reported. Low fat, non-sugar sweetened yogurt facilitates energy balance and body weight management. In addition, the flexibility of yogurt’s structure enables it to accommodate supplementation with micronutrients which are potentially required by diabetic patients. However, clinical studies are very restricted and the effects of fortification with other vitamins beyond vitamin D on glycemic control have not been examined. Group B vitamins hold key role in macronutrients’ metabolism while low levels have been associated with insulin resistance. The study aims to investigate the possible beneficial effects of a dietary intervention with low fat, low sugar yogurt fortified with group B vitamins on metabolic control of T2D patients.
Methodology: Ten overweight patients with T2D were enrolled in the study and were guided to consume daily, two servings (2x200 g) of fruit yogurt (0% fat, 6% sugars) enriched with group B vitamins for 12 weeks. Measurement of anthropometric characteristics, biochemical parameters, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), vitamin B and homocysteine as well as Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) were performed at the beginning and the end of the dietary intervention.
Findings: Intake of vitamins B fortified yogurt resulted in significant reduction of body weight, body mass index and body fat without affecting free fat mass. A marginally significant reduction of HbA1c was also observed. Blood concentrations of vitamins B were increased while glycemic response of patients in OGTT was ameliorated after the dietary intervention.
Conclusions & Significance: Regular consumption of low fat, low sugar yogurt enriched with group B vitamins facilitates body weight management and improves glycemic control in patients with T2D.