Digestive Properties of Carbohydrate-based Foods

Gastric emptying rate, glycemic response, fermentation, and appetitive response are being assessed after consumption of traditional West African carbohydrate-based foods (pearl millet couscous, pearl millet thick porridge) and Western type carbohydrate-based foods (wheat couscous, white rice).

Anecdotal evidence suggests that couscous made from pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), hereby referred to as millet couscous, is highly satiating in populations living in the West African Sahel. Results from a previous human study conducted the investigators indicated that traditional West African foods made from pearl millet and sorghum (millet couscous, millet thick porridge, and sorghum thick porridge) exhibit markedly delayed rates of gastric emptying compared to Western foods (pasta, boiled potatoes, and white rice) in a population from Mali, Africa. The delayed gastric emptying rate of the thick porridges can be attributed at least partially to the impact of viscosity, while the cause of the delayed gastric emptying rate of the millet couscous remains unclear. The overall aim of this research is to determine why millet couscous exhibits a delayed rate of gastric emptying, while also assessing other digestive properties to gain a better understanding of the factors that could be contributing to this outcome. Therefore, gastric emptying rate, glycemic response, fermentation, and appetitive response are all being assessed for West African and Western foods in a population residing in the United States.

Thick porridge prepared according to traditional West African methods with pearl millet obtained from Senegal but processed and prepared in USA

Pearl millet couscous (made in Senegal) was tested for gastric emptying rate, glycemic response, fermentability, and appetitive response.

Pearl millet couscous (made in USA) was tested for gastric emptying rate, glycemic response, fermentability, and appetitive response.

Pearl millet thick porridge was tested for gastric emptying rate, glycemic response, fermentability, and appetitive response.

Wheat couscous was tested for gastric emptying rate, glycemic response, fermentability, and appetitive response.

White rice was tested as a comparator for gastric emptying rate, glycemic response, fermentability, and appetitive response.

Breath samples are being collected at certain intervals for 4 hours after consumption of test food and analyzed for hydrogen levels using a breath analyzer. Breath hydrogen levels are indicative of a food's fermentability.

Hunger and fullness scores are being measured using a 10-cm scale (0 = weakest feeling of hunger or fullness and 10 = strongest feeling of hunger or fullness) after consumption of test food. Weaker feelings of hunger and stronger feelings of fullness are indicative of better outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria: Normal body mass index (18.5 < BMI < 25 kg/m2) Normal fasting blood glucose Exclusion Criteria: Diabetes Allergy to millet Allergy or sensitivity/intolerance to gluten History of gastrointestinal disease Pregnant or nursing