The study compared the effect of bitter melon intake and moderate exercise on postprandial glucose levels as measured by incremental area under the curve (iAUC) in eight patients with type 2 diabetes.
Background: This study compared the effects of bitter melon intake and moderate-intensity physical activity on postprandial glucose responses in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: A total of 8 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to two sequences (AB, BA) with two treatments (A or B) using a 2 x 2 randomized cross-over design: A) 100 ml of bitter melon juice administered 15 minutes prior to the 75-g oral glucose load; B) 30 minutes walking at moderate-intensity performed 15 minutes after the oral glucose load.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
8
Fresh bitter melon fruits were purchased from certified local groceries. The seeds of bitter melon were removed, and the juice was obtained from the raw fruit using a blender. Every 140 g of bitter melon fruit produced approximately 100 ml bitter melon juice.
The walking exercise was started 15 minutes after the glucose load. Walking speed was determined to elicit 65% of the maximum heart rate (HRmax) during exercise for each participant. HRmax was estimated using the America College of Cardiology prediction model, HRmax=208 - 0.7 × age. All participants wore a heart rate monitor (Polar, Vantage, XL) around the chest to assess exercise intensity. A rate of perceived exertion was assessed every 2 minutes based on the Borg's scale.
mean glucose
mean glucose values
Time frame: 2-hour postprandial period
incremental area under the curve
2-hour postprandial glucose incremental area under the curve
Time frame: 2-hour postprandial period
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