The Effects of Raspberry Leaf Tea on Blood Glucose Control in Healthy Adults

The aim of the present clinical trial is to assess how raspberry leaf polyphenols impact on postprandial glucose and insulin levels in healthy individuals consuming sucrose.

The questions the project will address:

• Do raspberry leaf polyphenols lower sucrose-induced increases in plasma glucose in humans?
• Do these polyphenols mediate these effects by inhibiting digestion of sucrose or the absorption of glucose.

20 healthy adults will be recruited between the ages of 18-65 years who are non-smokers and not taking certain types of medication (e.g., drugs from a GP for high blood pressure, high blood fats, inflammatory conditions, and depression) or dietary supplements (e.g., cholesterol-lowering spreads, fish oil, probiotics, prebiotics, and natural laxatives), antibiotics in the last three months or if they used any drugs or supplements that could affect their blood glucose or lipid metabolism. No abnormal results for liver function tests, renal function tests, and lipid profile tests. If they have food allergies or consume more than 14 units of alcohol per week (i.e., to help they calculate a alcohol intake, one standard glass of wine (175 ml) or one pint of regular lager is equivalent to just over two units of alcohol), frequently travel for work or are participating in another intervention study, they will not be able to participate. Women who are pregnant or lactating or planning a pregnancy in the next six months will also not be able to take part, not use herbal medicines for at least the previous three months, not be on a weight loss program six months before screening, not involved in clinical trials six months before the screening, and not having severe cardiac, hepatic, or renal function impairment. Not Sufferers of chronic illnesses, not Individuals with food allergies, not people with coeliac disease.

They will be asked to attend a four-study visit after an eight-hour overnight fast. Volunteers will be asked to consume 50 g of carbohydrate powder (sucrose and glucose) with or without 10 g of raspberry leaf tea, which will be dissolved in 300 mL of warm water during four visits (every month). Blood samples will be taken at intervals for a period of two hours after the consumption of raspberry leaf or control. Blood glucose and insulin levels will be tested 15 minutes before, at 15,30,60,90, and 120 minutes after carbohydrate intake.