Evaluation of In Vivo Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load of MARES P10 Whey Protein Beverage

T he glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) are important measures to assess the impact of foods and beverages on postprandial blood glucose levels. Accurate assessment of glycemic response ensures that products meet the nutritional needs of consumers who want an effective supplement without causing a spike in blood sugar levels. Consequently, the GI and GL of MARES P10, a whey protein beverage, are the objective of this study. The GI value of MARES P10 was determined in 10 healthy adults with an equal proportion of males and females. The blood glucose levels of participants were monitored for the subsequent two hours, and both the reference food (glucose solution) and MARES P10 contained 50 g of available carbohydrates. After ingesting MARES P10, participants had significantly lower blood glucose levels than after oral glucose solution test at 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes (p<0.001, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, and 0.039, respectively). The incremental area under the glycemic response curve at 120 minutes was also significantly lower than that of the oral glucose solution test (1,589.60 ± 217.14 and 4,725.60 ± 354.12 mg × min/dL, respectively, p<0.001). The GI and GL of MARES P10 were analyzed, and the mean ± SEM values were 34.56 ± 4.81 and 13.91 ± 1.94, respectively. These findings suggest that MARES P10 has a low GI and a medium GL, making it a suitable supplement for individuals seeking to manage blood sugar levels and maintain sustained energy.