Glycemic index values of monofloral Turkish honeys and the effect of their consumption on glucose metabolism

WOS: 000370271100037PubMed ID: 27511515Background/aim: Clinical trials have shown that low glycemic index (GI) nutrition reduces mean blood glucose concentrations and insulin secretions. The aim of the present study was to determine the GI values of various monofloral (citrus, milk-vetch, chestnut, thyme, lime, pine) honeys of Turkey, and the effect of their consumption on glucose metabolism. Materials and methods: Processing data from 20 healthy volunteers, GI values were determined from the glycemia values by using the incremental area method. Serum insulin and C-peptide levels were also measured before and 120 min after the test. Results: The GI values of citrus, thyme, lime, chestnut, pine, and milk-vetch honeys were found to be 44.9, 52.6, 55.3, 55.5, 58.8, and 69, respectively. Serum insulin and C-peptide values after honey consumption were relatively lower than those after reference food (glucose) consumption. By the end of the 120 min, serum insulin levels were significantly higher, while a significant decrease was observed after the consumption of chestnut honey (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Citrus and thyme honeys were determined to have low GI, while serum insulin levels were significantly lower after the consumption of chestnut honey. Long-term research is needed to compare the effects of honey consumption on healthy and diabetic individuals.TUBITAK (the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) [1002-112S549]The authors express their gratitude for the grant by TUBITAK (the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) (code 1002-112S549). The authors also would like to express special thanks to the academicians from the Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics at Erciyes University for their supervision in the statistical work