Summer Undergraduate Research Program - Fred Hutchinson ...

Impact of Meal Frequency on Glucose Patterns
Aisha G. Kudura¹, Yvonne Schwarz², Johanna W. Lampe² ³, Marian L. Neuhouser² ³
¹New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; ²Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA;
³University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Study Design Results
Background
Analysis included data from 8 participants. We used Area Under the
Curve (AUC) to analyze the blood glucose data. Although no significant
Many popular weight-loss diets today have suggested that frequent
eating, or grazing, might be beneficial for weight loss. However it is
difference was observed between the AUC during the grazing pattern
and the three-meals-a-day pattern (p=.570), AUC glucose was slightly
unclear what effect this eating pattern may have on glucose and insulin
regulation. Eating frequently throughout the day keeps the body in a
higher (about 2%) during the grazing pattern.
Characteristic N %
Sex
Male 3 38
Female 5 63
Race
White 6 75
African American 2 25
2010 Best Poster Award
postprandial metabolic state, preventing glucose levels from reaching
the between-meal nadir that allows for secretion of the counter-
Interestingly, standard deviations were quite a bit higher for the grazing
pattern (Average AUC SD Grazing=7.03, Average AUC SD
regulatory hormone network.
Characteristic Mean SD
Meal=3.95), suggesting that the glucose excursions were more
86.6 10.1
Fasting Glucose
(Baseline)
variable during the grazing pattern.
Pattern Mean
AUC Glucose
SD
AUC
Grazing 23,600 7.85
Meal 22,100 4.71
Chronic exposure to glucose and insulin through frequent eating may
put individuals at risk for carcinogenesis and other health problems, yet
BMI (kg/m²) 29.5 2.9
37.3 10.3
% Body Fat
(Baseline DXA)
few studies have examined the effects of meal frequency on health.
During times of frequent eating, certain cancer-related signaling
pathways (Pl3K-Akt/mTOR) remain up-regulated, increasing the risk for
carcinogenesis.
Results
The Meals and Grazing (MAG) study compared the effect of a 3meal-a-day
eating pattern to a grazing eating pattern on glucose
155
and insulin in healthy, free-living humans.
Methods
HYPOTHESIS: Compared to a standard three-meal-a-day eating pattern, a
grazing meal pattern will be associated with glucose intolerance and risk for
insulin resistance.
DESIGN: Eight participants were invited to join the study. Subjects were
Conclusion & Future Directions
asked to keep a food log of their usual diet for one week. Subjects were
then randomized to begin with either a three-meal-a-day eating pattern or a
The MAG study was a small pilot study examining the impact of meal
frequency on health. The CGMS is a useful device for monitoring blood
¹Includes data for all subjects
FASTING GLUCOSE
grazing meal pattern for two weeks. All subjects were free-living and ate
their habitual foods (same foods as in the 7-day food log) during the study.
glucose in future nutrition or health related studies. Although no
significant difference was found between those who ate three meals a
Pattern Mean
(mg/dL (mg/ dL) SD P value
Intensive instruction was provided from a Registered Dietitian about eating
the same foods for the meal period and the grazing period, but splitting the
day and those who ate eight smaller meals a day, there was a
suggestion that the AUC was larger for grazing than for the 3-meal-a-
Grazing 89.25 4.71 .077
Meal 93.25 7.85
identical foods into three or eight eating occasions per day. In this way, the
same foods and the same number of calories were consumed on each
day pattern. Further research on meal frequency and health needs to
be conducted using a larger sample size. Future studies should also
study arm. After a two-week washout period, subjects crossed over to the
other eating pattern. Subjects wore a continuous glucose monitoring sensor
focus on ways to increase participant adherence to the prescribed
weekly menu.
FASTING INSULIN
(CGMS) three days prior to the end of each eating period (Medtronics®,
Inc., Northridge, CA). T-tests compared fasting insulin and glucose as well
Acknowledgements
Pattern Mean
SD P value
(mg/dL (mg/ dL)
Grazing 6.86 3.28 .382
as Area Under the Curve (AUC).
The MAG study is supported by grant U54CA116847. The summer internship
program is supported in part by NCI grants: 5 U54 CA132381 (FHCRC) and 5 U54
CA132383 (NMSU). Thanks to Medtronics® for the use of the CGMS devices, and
to Dr. Marian Neuhouser and Yvonne Schwarz for the mentorship throughout this
project.
Meal 7.53 2.96
¹Includes data for all subjects
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