John R. Piggott

Effects of konjac glucomannan hydrolysates on the gut microflora of mice

Purpose – The aim of this study is to determine the effects of depolymerised mannans and specifically konjac glucomannan hydrolysates (GMH) on the colonic microflora of mice. Blood glucose and cholesterol were also measured.Design/methodology/approach – Two groups (n = 20) of 12‐week old Wister mice were used for a period of 14 weeks. One group (treatment group) were fed diets containing 5 per cent konjac GMH dissolved in drinking water in addition to the control (group) standard diet. Faecal microflora, feed consumption, body weight, blood glucose and cholesterol were determined.Findings – The GMH promoted the growth of anaerobes and lactobacilli in the treatment group where this was statistically, highly significant (P < 0.001). Also, the hydrolysate was able to reduce highly significantly (P < 0.001) faecal Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli counts. A significant increase in average daily feed consumption (P < 0.05) and weekly body weight (P < 0.001) was found for the treatment group. The mea...

Use of slow release starch (SRS) to treat hypoglycaemia in type 1 diabetics

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate if slow release starch (SRS) could be used to control/limit hypoglycaemia in type 1 diabetics.Design/methodology/approach – Ten type‐1 diabetic volunteers were fitted with continuous glucose monitors for two periods of 3 days when undertaking their normal routine or when consuming 60 g SRS before sleep.Findings – The average number of nocturnal hypoglycaemic episodes where no SRS was consumed over 3 days was 2.7 ± 2.0 but only 0.7 ± 1.1 after SRS consumption before sleep. The duration of these events was equivalent to 318 ± 282 and 140 ± 337 min, respectively. Average nocturnal blood glucose concentration was 7.9 ± 1.4 mmol l−1 without SRS consumption but increased to 9.7 ± 2.7 mmol l−1 when SRS was consumed. These data were highly significant when subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) test on a subject by subject basis. The SRS may be used as a cost effective therapy to avoid hypoglycaemia in patients with type‐1 diabetes.Originality/value – This pap...