Scientists from the University of Eastern Finland found that blackcurrants have a beneficial effect on post-meal blood sugar response.
The research is published in the British Journal of Nutrition and was conducted by Jenni Lappi et al.
Berries are an important component of a healthy diet, being rich in vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and polyphenols.
The effect is likely linked to berry-derived polyphenolic compounds, anthocyanins, which are rich in blackcurrants.
Previous studies have found the effects of berries on blood sugar, with dark berries, such as blackcurrant and bilberry, having the most convincing results.
Blackcurrants are often consumed with added sugar because of their natural sourness, which may be a cause of concern for health-conscious consumers.
In the current study, researchers tested 26 healthy people who consumed three different test products and sugar water as a control product at four separate study visits.
The test products were a blackcurrant purée with added sugar, a blackcurrant product containing fermented quinoa, and a blackcurrant product base without blackcurrants.
Each of them contained 31 g of available carbohydrates and had a similar composition of sugar components.
The team showed that compared to sugar water, both blackcurrant products had reduced maximum glucose and insulin, delayed fall of glucose, and delayed rise of free fatty acids because of hypoglycemia.
The results support earlier findings on the beneficial effects of blackcurrant on blood glucose response after a meal, showing the effect with smaller portion sizes.
The researchers say that over a longer period of time, smaller variations in the blood glucose and insulin levels, and improved insulin sensitivity, may decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes.
If you care about blood sugar, please read studies about drinks that could help control diabetes, lower blood sugar, and this high-protein plant may help improve blood sugar.
For more information about blood sugar, please see recent studies about a way to reverse high blood sugar and muscle loss, and results showing this common fruit may help reduce your blood sugar.
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