title: Mastication Frequency and Postprandial Blood Sugar Levels in Normoglycaemic and Dysglycaemic Individuals: A Cross- Sectional Comparative Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mastication has potential to affect postprandial blood glucose levels by affecting cephalic phase of insulin release. However, limited number of studies done in this regard has yielded conflicting results.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate effects of mastication on postprandial blood glucose levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared routine and thorough mastication in 2 separate groups: dysglycaemic (prediabetics and diabetics) and normoglycaemic in prospective interventional study. Blood glucose levels were measured pre-prandial and postprandial (after 2 hours) on separate days after routine and thorough mastication in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In normoglycaemic group, thorough mastication significantly reduced postprandial blood glucose levels at 2 hours (128.25± 7.82 mg/dl on routine mastication vs 119.74±9.08 mg/dl on thorough mastication, p<0.05). Comparatively, in dysglycaemic group, thorough mastication had little effect on postprandial blood glucose levels at 2 hours (244.07±22.37 mg/dl vs. 243.55±22.87 mg/dl).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In normoglycaemic group, postprandial blood glucose concentration upon thorough mastication was significantly lower, due to early-phase insulin secretion. This simple lifestyle modification of thorough mastication can be a useful preventive measure against diabetes in people with a strong family history and other risk factors for diabetes who have not yet developed diabetes or prediabetes.
authors.affiliation: Junior Resident, Department of Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Vinayak
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Madhu
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shirali
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Priyanka Niwas
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Pawaskar
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Madi
authors.affiliation: Additional Professor, Department of Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Nithyananda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chowta
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal University , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: John Thomas
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Ramapuram
keywords: Diabetics; Plasma glucose levels; Pre-diabetics; Rate of chewing