Purpose: Whey protein (WP) consumption prior to a meal curbs appetite and reduces postprandial glucose (PPG) through stimulating endogenous GLP-1 secretion and insulin. Methods: We assessed the metabolic effects of a concentrated WP, using a new micelle-technology (WPM), in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and overweight or obesity (NCT04639726). In a randomized-crossover design, participants performed two 240 min lunch meal (622 kcal) tests 7 ± 4 days apart. After an overnight fast and a standardized breakfast, 10 g (125 mL) WPM (40 kcal) or placebo (125 mL water, 0 kcal) was consumed 15 min ahead of the mixed-nutrient meal. Effects on PPG (primary endpoint), insulin, GLP-1, and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) were evaluated with frequent blood sampling. Changes in incremental areas under the concentration curve (iAUC) were compared using a mixed model. Results: Twenty-six individuals (14 females, mean ± SD age 62.0 ± 8.3 years, HbA1c 58 ± 12 mmol/mol/7.5 ± 1.1%, BMI 29.2 ± 4.8 kg/m²) completed both tests. WPM significantly reduced PPG iAUC_0–2h by 22% (p = 0.028), and iAUC_0–3h numerically by −18% (p = 0.090) vs. placebo. WPM also increased insulin iAUC_0–1h by 61% (p < 0.001), and iAUC_0–3h by 30% (p = 0.004), respectively. Total GLP-1 iAUC_0–2h was enhanced by 66% (p < 0.001). Postprandial plasma BCAA patterns were characterized by a rapid increase and larger iAUC_0–2h (all p < 0.001) after WPM. No adverse events were ascribed to consuming WPM. Conclusions: A 125 mL pre-meal drink containing just 10 g WPM before a mixed meal reduced PPG and increased insulin, GLP-1, and BCAAs. WPM may therefore serve as a metabolic modulator in people with T2D living with overweight or obesity.

Concomitant administration may improve vaccination rates. This analysis of a phase 1/2 randomized study included 1073 healthy ≥65-year-olds who previously received ≥3 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine doses. Participants received concomitantly administered RSVpreF and bivalent BA.4/BA.5-adapted BNT162b2 vaccine (concomitant administration) with or without quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV), admixed combined RSVpreF + BNT162b2 vaccine (combined vaccine) with or without QIV, RSVpreF, BNT162b2, or QIV. Immunogenicity objectives included demonstrating the noninferiority of neutralizing antibody titers elicited by concomitant administration and combined vaccine compared with RSVpreF or BNT162b2 administered alone, and by concomitant administration and combined vaccine given with QIV compared with RSVpreF, BNT162b2, and QIV alone. Reactogenicity (≤7 days) and safety ≤1 month (adverse events (AEs)) and ≤6 months (serious AEs (SAEs)) after vaccination were assessed. Noninferiority for all immunogenicity comparisons was demonstrated. All vaccine groups were well tolerated; no new safety concerns were identified. Reactogenicity was mostly mild/moderate with rates generally similar across groups, except injection site pain and fatigue, which were less frequent with RSVpreF + placebo vs. other groups. AEs were infrequent, mostly mild/moderate, occurring at similar frequencies across groups. No AEs leading to study withdrawal or vaccine-related SAEs were reported. Favorable safety and tolerability alongside similar immunogenicity provide support for concomitant or combined use of RSVpreF and BNT162b2, with or without QIV, to help protect older adults from these important respiratory pathogens (NCT05886777).

We assessed the glucometabolic effects of oligomalt, a novel fully slowly digestible carbohydrate, compared with maltodextrin, in cross-over randomized controlled trials (NCT05058144; NCT05963594) involving healthy volunteers (HV), people with overweight or obesity (PwO), and people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We tested 33 g and/or 50 g of oligomalt/maltodextrin, which were dissolved in 300 mL of water and consumed after fasting in the morning. The primary exploratory endpoint was the incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for postprandial glucose, assessed by frequent blood sampling over 3 h. Insulin levels were also assessed. In the HV cohort, a 4 h hydrogen breath test was performed with 15 g of inulin as a positive control. Analysis was performed by a mixed model. Oligomalt elicited a lower post-prandial glucose response compared to maltodextrin in HV (50 g, n = 15 [7 women], mean age/BMI 31 years/22.6 kg/m²), in PwO (33 g and 50 g, n = 26 [10 women], age/BMI 44 years/29.9 kg/m², mean HbA1c 5.3%), and in people with T2D (50 g, n = 22 [13 women], age/BMI 61 years/31.8 kg/m², HbA1c 7.4%), with significant reductions observed in PwO and T2D for the 0–1 h window (HV: −19% [p = 0.149]/PwO_33g-38% [p = 0.0002]/PwO_50g-28% [p = 0.0027]/T2D-38% [p < 0.0001]; the 0–2 h window (HV: −17% [p = 0.311]/PwO_33g-34% [p = 0.0057]/PwO_50g-21% [p = 0.0415]/T2D-37% [p < 0.0001]), and the 0–3 h window (HV: −15% [p = 0.386]/PwO_33g-30% [p = 0.0213]/PwO_50g0−19% [p = 0.0686]/T2D−37% [p = 0.0001]). The post-prandial insulin response was significantly lower, by 38–60%, across all populations, dose, and time points, with oligomalt. In HV, the breath-hydrogen pattern was comparable between oligomalt and maltodextrin, but increased significantly with inulin. These data support the glucometabolic advantages of oligomalt over maltodextrin, hence confirming it as a healthier carbohydrate, and underscoring its full digestibility. This therefore opens up the possibility for the incorporation of oligomalt in relevant food products/matrices.