Glycemic response of honey and dates consumption

Background and objective: The current study aims to evaluate the glycemic index of local honey and date intake in healthy adults. Methods: The study was conducted on 24 healthy volunteers. They were given 50 g of carbohydrates from Haji Omeran local honey, Khudri (or Khadrawi) local date and reference food (white bread). The average body mass index and age of volunteers are almost similar. The blood samples were collected from finger capillaries to assess the glucose levels by using glucometer at selected time points (0, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes). The data was recorded and statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Duncan comparison. Results: The study results showed that the glycemic index of the honey and date is classified as a medium glycemic index, referring to their high carbohydrates content. The results also indicated that honey and dates have significantly different effects (P0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, eating behavior regarding honey and date consumption, particularly portion size and ingestion timing, is essential to manage blood glucose levels. Thus, glycemic index values should be considered in promoting a healthy lifestyle from chronic related metabolic disorders especially, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.