2023 Volume 55 Pages 147-156
There is a well-known symptom of large postprandial blood glucose fluctuations called “blood glucose spikes”, in which blood glucose levels rise rapidly after eating and then return to normal levels. Because blood glucose spikes cause diabetes to progress unnoticed in not only middle-aged/elderly people but also young people, prevention of these spikes has become an important medical issue. In this study, we investigated the effect of the Jerusalem artichoke, a specialty product of Kumamoto Prefecture which is rich in water-soluble dietary fiber, on the prevention of blood glucose spikes. Female students in their 20s were used as test subjects, and their postprandial blood glucose levels were measured over time, with a level of 150 mg/dL or higher considered an indicator of a blood glucose spike. The Jerusalem artichokes were used in the form of dried chips for easy digestion. While the consumption of the Jerusalem artichoke chips alone had a weak glycemic control effect, a significant glycemic control effect was observed when the dried Jerusalem artichoke chips were mixed in with a vegetable salad. These results suggest that dried Jerusalem artichoke chips, in combination with other vegetables, may be an excellent food source for preventing the progression of diabetes.
