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

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).