BACKGROUNDFood composition and style is changing dramatically now, which causes inappropriate secretion of hormones from brain, gastrointestinal and endo-pancreas, may be related to unbalance of glucose in blood. The aim of this study was to explore the fast response of C-peptide, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), ghrelin and endomorphin-1 (EM-1) to the eastern and western style meals in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODSThe study enrolled 57 patients with type 2 diabetes (20 men and 37 women, mean age (67.05 ± 8.26) years). Eastern style meal (meal A) and western style meal (meal B) were designed to produce the fullness effect. C-peptide, GLP-1, ghrelin and EM-1 were assessed before (0 hour) and after (2 hours) each diet.

RESULTSThe delta (2h - 0h) of C- peptide in meal A was significantly lower than that in meal B (P = 0.0004). C-peptide, GLP-1, ghrelin and EM-1 were obviously higher before meal B than those before meal A (P < 0.0001, < 0.0001, = 0.001, = 0.0004 respectively). Blood glucose 2 hours and 3 hours after meal B were higher than those after meal A (P = 0.0005, 0.0079 respectively). Correlations between GLP-1 and ghrelin were strongly positive before both meals and 2 hours after both meals and also in relation to the delta of meal A and meal B (r(A0h) = 0.7836, r(B0h) = 0.9368, r(A2h) = 0.7615, r(B2h) = 0.9409, r(A(2h-0h)) = 0.7531, r((2h-0h))B = 0.9980, respectively, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONWestern style meal (high fat and protein food) could make more response of C-peptide than eastern style meal, and could stimulate more gut hormones (GLP-1, ghrelin) and brain peptide (EM-1) at the first phase of digestion.