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CompletedNCT03024983Updated Jan 19, 2017

Pasta and Other Durum Wheat-based Products: Effects on Post-prandial Glucose Metabolism

An interventional study of Glucose and Semolina soup in Dietary Modification, sponsored by University of Parma. Completed at 1 site in Italy. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2017-01-19.

Sponsored by University of Parma · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
18
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 60 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Carbohydrate-based products can influence the post-prandial glycemic response differently based on their ability to be digested, absorbed and to affect rises in plasma glucose. Pasta is one of the major carbohydrate-rich foods consumed in Italy. Studies from the literature describe a lower glycemic response after the consumption of pasta compared with other wheat-based products, such as bread. Among the factors affecting post-prandial glycemia after consumption of carbohydrate-based products, the technological process represents a central one.In fact, the different technological processes alter the food matrix which can affect the post-prandial metabolism of glucose differently. Thus, the present study aims at investigating the effect induced by the principal steps of the process of pasta production on the reduction of post-prandial glycemic response (post-prandial glucose, insulin, GLP-1, GIP plasma concentrations).

Read the detailed description

The different glycemic responses after the consumption of carbohydrate-based products are associated with different rates of digestion and absorption of the carbohydrates in the human body. Therefore, food products rich in carbohydrates can be classified based on their ability to be digested, absorbed and to affect post-prandial glycemia. Epidemiological studies suggest that following a diet including carbohydrate-based foods inducing a low and slow glycemic response is associated with reduced risk to develop some non-communicable diseases (such as type 2 diabetes (Livesey et al, 2013; Dong et al, 2011) and cardiovascular disease (Ludwig, 2002; Blaak et al, 2012)), to control inflammatory status (Ma et al, 2012; Sieri et al, 2010), which is the trigger of several pathologies, and to reduce fasting insulin (Schwingshackl \& Hoffmann, 2013). Depending on the food composition, a low glycemic response is not always associated with a low plasma insulin concentration. For instance, high protein or lipid concentrations in the food matrix have been demonstrated to induce low post-prandial glycemic responses, but not a reduction in insulin secretion (Gannon et al, 1988; Gannon et al, 1993; Collier et al. 1988). Avoiding a high insulin post-prandial response after consumption of foods represents a preventive factor against the risk of overweight and hyperlipidemia (Ostlund et al, 1990), type 2 diabetes (Weyer et al, 2001), and cancer (Onitilo et al, 2014). Therefore, the evaluation of both glycemic and insulinemic post-prandial response curves is necessary in order to demonstrate the true beneficial effect of the consumption of low glycemic index foods. Among several factors which can influence the post-prandial glycemic and insulinemic responses (such as macronutrient composition and the cooking process), the technological aspects through which the foods are produced represent an important one. Several studies reported a low glycemic response after the consumption of pasta compared with bread (Jenkins et al, 1988; Jenkins et al, 1981; Wolever et al, 1986), and this is due to the technological structures characterizing the two matrices (Petitot et al, 2009). Pasta is one of the major sources of carbohydrates consumed in Italy. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of pasta and other durum wheat based products on the plasma response of glucose, insulin, and other hormones related to the glucose metabolism (c-peptide, GLP-1 and GIP) in order to clearly discriminate the different biological effect induced by the technological process in the production of pasta, compared to foods beginning with the same ingredients. Moreover, the study aims to create a solid basis for future studies for evaluating the effect of pasta consumption, as the main source of carbohydrates, in a context of a balanced diet, for maintaining health.

02

Conditions studied

  • Dietary Modification
03

In context

Lead sponsor

University of Parma is the lead sponsor of 76 studies on the registry; 8 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 60 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • healthy male and female (age ≥ 18 years)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • celiac disease
  • metabolic disorders (diabetes, hypertension, dislipidemia, glucidic intolerance)
  • chronic drug therapies for any pathologies (including psychiatric diseases)
  • intense physical activity
  • dietary supplements affecting the metabolism
  • anemia
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
18 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Control

    Glucose monohydrate (isoglucidic portion -50 g of available carbohydrates-)

    Other: Glucose

  • Experimental
    Semolina

    Semolina soup (isoglucidic portion -50 g of available carbohydrates-)

    Other: Semolina soup

  • Experimental
    Bread

    Bread (isoglucidic portion -50 g of available carbohydrates-)

    Other: Bread

  • Experimental
    Short pasta (fresh)

    Fresh penne (isoglucidic portion -50 g of available carbohydrates-)

    Other: Penne (fresh)

  • Experimental
    Short pasta (dry)

    Short pasta (dry) (isoglucidic portion -50 g of available carbohydrates-)

    Other: Penne (dry)

  • Experimental
    Long pasta (dry)

    Long pasta (dry) (isoglucidic portion -50 g of available carbohydrates-)

    Other: Spaghetti (dry)

Interventions

  • OtherGlucose

    Glucose monohydrate (55 g) dissolved with 500 mL of water

  • OtherSemolina soup

    Semolina soup (322 g) eaten with 500 mL of water

  • OtherBread

    Bread (122 g) eaten with 500 mL of water

  • OtherPenne (fresh)

    Cooked penne (132 g) eaten with 500 mL of water

  • OtherPenne (dry)

    Cooked penne (142 g) eaten with 500 mL of water

  • OtherSpaghetti (dry)

    Cooked spaghetti (142 g) eaten with 500 mL of water

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. incremental area under the curve for plasma glucose

    Time frame: 2 hours (-10 and 0 -fasting-, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 minutes)

Secondary outcomes

  1. post-prandial insulin plasma concentration

    Time frame: 2 hours (-10 and 0 -fasting-, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 minutes)

  2. post-prandial c-peptide plasma concentration

    Time frame: 2 hours (-10 and 0 -fasting-, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 minutes)

  3. post-prandial GLP-1 plasma concentration

    Time frame: 2 hours (-10 and 0 -fasting-, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 minutes)

  4. post-prandial GIP plasma concentration

    Time frame: 2 hours (-10 and 0 -fasting-, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 minutes)

  5. post-prandial glucagon plasma concentration

    Time frame: 2 hours (-10 and 0 -fasting-, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 minutes)

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Department of Food Science, University of Parma
    Parma, 43125, Italy
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Blaak EE, Antoine JM, Benton D, Bjorck I, Bozzetto L, Brouns F, Diamant M, Dye L, Hulshof T, Holst JJ, Lamport DJ, Laville M, Lawton CL, Meheust A, Nilson A, Normand S, Rivellese AA, Theis S, Torekov SS, Vinoy S. Impact of postprandial glycaemia on health and prevention of disease. Obes Rev. 2012 Oct;13(10):923-84. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2012.01011.x. Epub 2012 Jul 11. PubMed 22780564 ↗
  • Collier GR, Greenberg GR, Wolever TM, Jenkins DJ. The acute effect of fat on insulin secretion. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1988 Feb;66(2):323-6. doi: 10.1210/jcem-66-2-323. PubMed 3276722 ↗
  • Dong JY, Zhang L, Zhang YH, Qin LQ. Dietary glycaemic index and glycaemic load in relation to the risk of type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Br J Nutr. 2011 Dec;106(11):1649-54. doi: 10.1017/S000711451100540X. Epub 2011 Sep 29. PubMed 22017823 ↗
  • Gannon MC, Nuttall FQ, Neil BJ, Westphal SA. The insulin and glucose responses to meals of glucose plus various proteins in type II diabetic subjects. Metabolism. 1988 Nov;37(11):1081-8. doi: 10.1016/0026-0495(88)90072-8. PubMed 3054432 ↗
  • Jenkins DJ, Wolever TM, Jenkins AL. Starchy foods and glycemic index. Diabetes Care. 1988 Feb;11(2):149-59. doi: 10.2337/diacare.11.2.149. PubMed 3383733 ↗
  • Jenkins DJ, Wolever TM, Taylor RH, Barker H, Fielden H, Baldwin JM, Bowling AC, Newman HC, Jenkins AL, Goff DV. Glycemic index of foods: a physiological basis for carbohydrate exchange. Am J Clin Nutr. 1981 Mar;34(3):362-6. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/34.3.362. PubMed 6259925 ↗
  • Livesey G, Taylor R, Livesey H, Liu S. Is there a dose-response relation of dietary glycemic load to risk of type 2 diabetes? Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Mar;97(3):584-96. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.041467. Epub 2013 Jan 30. PubMed 23364021 ↗
  • Ludwig DS. The glycemic index: physiological mechanisms relating to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. JAMA. 2002 May 8;287(18):2414-23. doi: 10.1001/jama.287.18.2414. PubMed 11988062 ↗
  • Ma XY, Liu JP, Song ZY. Glycemic load, glycemic index and risk of cardiovascular diseases: meta-analyses of prospective studies. Atherosclerosis. 2012 Aug;223(2):491-6. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2012.05.028. Epub 2012 Jun 6. PubMed 22727193 ↗
  • Onitilo AA, Stankowski RV, Berg RL, Engel JM, Glurich I, Williams GM, Doi SA. Type 2 diabetes mellitus, glycemic control, and cancer risk. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2014 Mar;23(2):134-40. doi: 10.1097/CEJ.0b013e3283656394. PubMed 23962874 ↗
  • Ostlund RE Jr, Staten M, Kohrt WM, Schultz J, Malley M. The ratio of waist-to-hip circumference, plasma insulin level, and glucose intolerance as independent predictors of the HDL2 cholesterol level in older adults. N Engl J Med. 1990 Jan 25;322(4):229-34. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199001253220404. PubMed 2403660 ↗
  • Petitot, M., Abecassis, J. & Micard, V. Structuring of pasta components during processing: impact on starch and protein digestibility and allergenicity. Trends Food Sci Tech. 2009;20,521-532
  • Schwingshackl L, Hoffmann G. Long-term effects of low glycemic index/load vs. high glycemic index/load diets on parameters of obesity and obesity-associated risks: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2013 Aug;23(8):699-706. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2013.04.008. Epub 2013 Jun 17. PubMed 23786819 ↗
  • Sieri S, Krogh V, Berrino F, Evangelista A, Agnoli C, Brighenti F, Pellegrini N, Palli D, Masala G, Sacerdote C, Veglia F, Tumino R, Frasca G, Grioni S, Pala V, Mattiello A, Chiodini P, Panico S. Dietary glycemic load and index and risk of coronary heart disease in a large italian cohort: the EPICOR study. Arch Intern Med. 2010 Apr 12;170(7):640-7. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2010.15. PubMed 20386010 ↗
  • Weyer C, Funahashi T, Tanaka S, Hotta K, Matsuzawa Y, Pratley RE, Tataranni PA. Hypoadiponectinemia in obesity and type 2 diabetes: close association with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 May;86(5):1930-5. doi: 10.1210/jcem.86.5.7463. PubMed 11344187 ↗
  • Wolever TM, Jenkins DJ, Kalmusky J, Giordano C, Giudici S, Jenkins AL, Thompson LU, Wong GS, Josse RG. Glycemic response to pasta: effect of surface area, degree of cooking, and protein enrichment. Diabetes Care. 1986 Jul-Aug;9(4):401-4. doi: 10.2337/diacare.9.4.401. PubMed 3743316 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jan 19, 2017, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03024983
Lead sponsor
University of Parma
Responsible party
Francesca Scazzina Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, University of Parma) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jan 19, 2017
Start date
Sep 2015
Primary completion
Jun 2016
Completion
Jul 2016
Last update
Jan 19, 2017

Study contacts

Francesca Scazzina, Professor
principal investigator · Department of Food Science, University of Parma
Furio Brighenti, Professor
study director · Department of Food Science, University of Parma

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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