Adansonia digitata L. (Baobab Fruit) Effect on Postprandial Glycemia in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 14; no. 2; p. 398
• Main Authors: Rita, Keyla, Bernardo, Maria Alexandra, Silva, Maria Leonor, Brito, José, Mesquita, Maria Fernanda, Pintão, Ana Maria, Moncada, Margarida
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 17.01.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Acids; Adansonia - chemistry; Adansonia digitata; Adolescent; Adult; Africa; Analytical chemistry; antioxidant activity; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - analysis; blood glucose; Blood Glucose - analysis; Blood Glucose - drug effects; Body mass index; Clinical trials; Consent; Fasting; Female; Food; food composition; Fruit - chemistry; fruits; Glucose; glucose tolerance tests; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Intervention; Male; Moniz, Egas; nitric oxide; Phenols - analysis; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Polyphenols; Portugal; Postprandial Period; Potassium; Proanthocyanidins - analysis; Questionnaires; randomized clinical trials; Seeds; t-test; Tannins - analysis; therapeutics; Young Adult; Portugal; Lisbon Portugal; United States > US; Africa; baobab fruit; polyphenols; proanthocyanins; antioxidant; Adansonia digitata; postprandial glycemia
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu14020398

Baobab fruits have been traditionally used in Africa due to their therapeutic properties attributed to their high polyphenol content. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of baobab fruit on postprandial glycaemia in healthy adults and to measure its bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. The study (NCT05140629) was conducted on 31 healthy subjects. The participants were randomly allocated in the control group (oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); n = 16) and in the intervention group (OGTT, followed by administration of 250 mL baobab aqueous extract (BAE); n = 15). Total phenols, proanthocyanins, hydrolyzable tannins, and antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH, ABTS, and inhibition of O2•− and NO• methods) were quantified. Repeated measures ANOVA of mixed type and independent samples t-test were used. Glycemia incremental area under the curve (p = 0.012) and glucose maximum concentration (p = 0.029) was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group. The BAE revealed high total contents of phenols, proanthocyanins, and hydrolyzable tannins, as well as a strong capacity to scavenge superoxide anions and nitric oxide radicals and a high antioxidant activity. In conclusion, this study encourages the use of this food component as a promising source of natural antioxidants and a hypoglycemic agent under glucose load acute conditions.