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A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Single-Center, Crossover Study to Evaluate the Effects of Pre-Meal Whey Protein Microgel on Post-Prandial Glucometabolic and Amino Acid Response in People with Type 2 Diabetes and Overweight or Obesity

Neeland, Ian J. ; de Gregório, Luiz H. ; Zagury, Roberto ; Ahrén, Bo LU ; Neutel, Joel ; Darimont, Christian ; Corthesy, John ; Grzywinski, Yohan ; Perrin, Emilie and von Eynatten, Maximilian , et al. (2025) In Metabolites 15(1).
Abstract

Purpose: Whey protein (WP) consumption prior to a meal curbs appetite and reduces postprandial glucose (PPG) through stimulating endogenous GLP-1 secretion and insulin. Methods: We assessed the metabolic effects of a concentrated WP, using a new micelle-technology (WPM), in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and overweight or obesity (NCT04639726). In a randomized-crossover design, participants performed two 240 min lunch meal (622 kcal) tests 7 ± 4 days apart. After an overnight fast and a standardized breakfast, 10 g (125 mL) WPM (40 kcal) or placebo (125 mL water, 0 kcal) was consumed 15 min ahead of the mixed-nutrient meal. Effects on PPG (primary endpoint), insulin, GLP-1, and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) were evaluated with... (More)

Purpose: Whey protein (WP) consumption prior to a meal curbs appetite and reduces postprandial glucose (PPG) through stimulating endogenous GLP-1 secretion and insulin. Methods: We assessed the metabolic effects of a concentrated WP, using a new micelle-technology (WPM), in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and overweight or obesity (NCT04639726). In a randomized-crossover design, participants performed two 240 min lunch meal (622 kcal) tests 7 ± 4 days apart. After an overnight fast and a standardized breakfast, 10 g (125 mL) WPM (40 kcal) or placebo (125 mL water, 0 kcal) was consumed 15 min ahead of the mixed-nutrient meal. Effects on PPG (primary endpoint), insulin, GLP-1, and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) were evaluated with frequent blood sampling. Changes in incremental areas under the concentration curve (iAUC) were compared using a mixed model. Results: Twenty-six individuals (14 females, mean ± SD age 62.0 ± 8.3 years, HbA1c 58 ± 12 mmol/mol/7.5 ± 1.1%, BMI 29.2 ± 4.8 kg/m2) completed both tests. WPM significantly reduced PPG iAUC0–2h by 22% (p = 0.028), and iAUC0–3h numerically by −18% (p = 0.090) vs. placebo. WPM also increased insulin iAUC0–1h by 61% (p < 0.001), and iAUC0–3h by 30% (p = 0.004), respectively. Total GLP-1 iAUC0–2h was enhanced by 66% (p < 0.001). Postprandial plasma BCAA patterns were characterized by a rapid increase and larger iAUC0–2h (all p < 0.001) after WPM. No adverse events were ascribed to consuming WPM. Conclusions: A 125 mL pre-meal drink containing just 10 g WPM before a mixed meal reduced PPG and increased insulin, GLP-1, and BCAAs. WPM may therefore serve as a metabolic modulator in people with T2D living with overweight or obesity.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
amino acid, GLP-1, insulin, obesity, type 2 diabetes, whey protein micelles
in
Metabolites
volume
15
issue
1
article number
61
publisher
MDPI AG
external identifiers
  • scopus:85216190436
  • pmid:39852403
ISSN
2218-1989
DOI
10.3390/metabo15010061
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2025 by the authors.
id
0c4a646a-131d-4ec2-8f15-bd3c10677916
date added to LUP
2025-04-09 14:48:28
date last changed
2025-07-16 22:36:05
@article{0c4a646a-131d-4ec2-8f15-bd3c10677916,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: Whey protein (WP) consumption prior to a meal curbs appetite and reduces postprandial glucose (PPG) through stimulating endogenous GLP-1 secretion and insulin. Methods: We assessed the metabolic effects of a concentrated WP, using a new micelle-technology (WPM), in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and overweight or obesity (NCT04639726). In a randomized-crossover design, participants performed two 240 min lunch meal (622 kcal) tests 7 ± 4 days apart. After an overnight fast and a standardized breakfast, 10 g (125 mL) WPM (40 kcal) or placebo (125 mL water, 0 kcal) was consumed 15 min ahead of the mixed-nutrient meal. Effects on PPG (primary endpoint), insulin, GLP-1, and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) were evaluated with frequent blood sampling. Changes in incremental areas under the concentration curve (iAUC) were compared using a mixed model. Results: Twenty-six individuals (14 females, mean ± SD age 62.0 ± 8.3 years, HbA1c 58 ± 12 mmol/mol/7.5 ± 1.1%, BMI 29.2 ± 4.8 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) completed both tests. WPM significantly reduced PPG iAUC<sub>0–2h</sub> by 22% (p = 0.028), and iAUC<sub>0–3h</sub> numerically by −18% (p = 0.090) vs. placebo. WPM also increased insulin iAUC<sub>0–1h</sub> by 61% (p &lt; 0.001), and iAUC<sub>0–3h</sub> by 30% (p = 0.004), respectively. Total GLP-1 iAUC<sub>0–2h</sub> was enhanced by 66% (p &lt; 0.001). Postprandial plasma BCAA patterns were characterized by a rapid increase and larger iAUC<sub>0–2h</sub> (all p &lt; 0.001) after WPM. No adverse events were ascribed to consuming WPM. Conclusions: A 125 mL pre-meal drink containing just 10 g WPM before a mixed meal reduced PPG and increased insulin, GLP-1, and BCAAs. WPM may therefore serve as a metabolic modulator in people with T2D living with overweight or obesity.</p>}},
  author       = {{Neeland, Ian J. and de Gregório, Luiz H. and Zagury, Roberto and Ahrén, Bo and Neutel, Joel and Darimont, Christian and Corthesy, John and Grzywinski, Yohan and Perrin, Emilie and von Eynatten, Maximilian and Johansen, Odd Erik}},
  issn         = {{2218-1989}},
  keywords     = {{amino acid; GLP-1; insulin; obesity; type 2 diabetes; whey protein micelles}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  series       = {{Metabolites}},
  title        = {{A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Single-Center, Crossover Study to Evaluate the Effects of Pre-Meal Whey Protein Microgel on Post-Prandial Glucometabolic and Amino Acid Response in People with Type 2 Diabetes and Overweight or Obesity}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/metabo15010061}},
  doi          = {{10.3390/metabo15010061}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}