Glucose nadir and rip appear to influence both satiety and subsequent energy intake in healthy young women, independent of post-prandial fluctuations of insulin and other appetite-related gut hormones, according to a study.
“These data support for a role of glucose in models of appetite regulation,” the researchers said.
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)-derived glucose nadir (lowest concentration) and dip (deviation of nadir from baseline as a percentage) significantly correlated with subsequent energy intake. A higher nadir was associated with lower energy intake (β, ‒0.17; p=0.003), while a greater dip was associated with higher intake (β, 0.007; p<0.001). [Eur J Clin Nutr 2026;80:725-733]
When standardized, a one-standard deviation (SD) increase in glucose nadir resulted in a nearly 13-percent decrease in energy intake, whereas a one-SD increase in glucose dip correlated with about 16-percent increase in energy intake.
Both glucose nadir (CGM: β, 0.23; p=0.041; venous plasma glucose [VPG]: β, 0.26; p=0.008) and dip (CGM: β, ‒0.01; p=0.006; VPG: β, ‒0.012; p<0.001) also influenced overall satiety measured immediately before the ad libitum lunch.
Specifically, a one-SD increase in glucose nadir corresponded to higher satiety (CGM: 20-percent increase; VPG: 20-percent increase), while a one-SD increase in glucose dip resulted in lower satiety (CGM: 15-percent reduction; VPG: 17-percent reduction).
In causal mediation analyses, such associations appeared to be independent of insulin and hormones, including acylated ghrelin, total GLP-1, or oxyntomodulin (p≥0.09).
Glucose peaks
“This study also explored other CGM-derived glycaemic variables but found no significant associations with overall appetite or energy intake,” the researchers said.
Previous studies observed greater energy intake with higher glucose peaks following high glycaemic index meals compared with low glycaemic meals. This was potentially driven by greater post-prandial dips due to sharp initial rises in blood glucose. [Diab Care 2002;25:822-828; Nutrients 2019;11:260; Am J Clin Nutr [Internet] 2009;89:97-105]
“Acute glucose rises invoke regulatory processes that lower glucose and contribute to a subsequent drop, potentially below basal concentrations,” the researchers said. “Greater acute rises and falls in glucose concentrations have been found in meals with more simple carbohydrates.” [Obes Res 1996;4:489-492; Eur J Clin Nutr 2009;63:872-878; Am J Clin Nutr 2006;83:1306-1312]
Study details
The current study involved 30 healthy women (mean age 25 years, mean BMI 21.4 kg/m2), who arrived at the laboratory at 8 AM after an overnight fast. They completed a 30-min resting period, during which the cannula was inserted, and all fasted glucose measurements were collected.
The researchers measured glucose every 5 min using CGM and obtained one VPG sample immediately after cannula insertion. After the 30-min rest, participants had breakfast and remained in the laboratory for another 240 min. Glucose was monitored via CGM every 5 min, and VPG was measured every 15 min after breakfast, while energy intake was assessed at 240 min using an ad-libitum homogeneous meal.
Generalized linear models were used to examine the relationships between glycaemic variables and satiety or energy intake, with adjustment for BMI and menstrual cycle phase. The researchers also conducted bootstrap-based causal mediation analyses to determine whether appetite-related hormones mediated the associations between glycaemic responses and satiety or energy intake.