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. 2025 Feb 12;17(4):658.
doi: 10.3390/nu17040658.

Sequence of Eating at Japanese-Style Set Meals Improves Postprandial Glycemic Elevation in Healthy People

Yuri Kurotobi  1   2 , Hitoshi Kuwata  1   2 , Mari Matsushiro  1   2 , Yasuhiro Omori  1   2 , Masahiro Imura  1   2 , Susumu Nakatani  1   2 , Miho Matsubara  1   2 , Takuya Haraguchi  1   2 , Shota Moyama  1 , Yoshiyuki Hamamoto  1   2 , Yuichiro Yamada  1   2 , Yutaka Seino  1   2 , Yuji Yamazaki  1   2
Affiliations

Sequence of Eating at Japanese-Style Set Meals Improves Postprandial Glycemic Elevation in Healthy People

Yuri Kurotobi et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background: The meal sequencing of macronutrients has been shown to ameliorate postprandial glucose excursion, but its effects in daily meals has not been investigated. We examined the impact on the glucose response to meal sequencing in healthy Japanese adults using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) during a typical lunch meal.

Methods: The test meal was a Japanese set meal or a beef and rice bowl, the contents of which were categorized as "rice" or "non-rice". In the meal experiments, the subjects ingested the two categories of food in one of three orders: non-rice before rice, non-rice and rice together, and non-rice after rice. In the beef and rice bowl experiments, the subjects ingested either non-rice 15 min before rice or the two foods together.

Results: The postprandial glucose level was measured over a 4 h period and the mean level of postprandial glucose was significantly lower than that when eating rice before non-rice or both together. Consuming non-rice before rice significantly reduced postprandial glycemic excursions in healthy adults in both experiments.

Conclusions: Meal-sequencing by "eat carbs last" is a feasible dietary strategy for the better prevention and management of diabetes.

Keywords: diabetes; diet therapy; glucose monitoring; incretin; meal sequence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Y.Y. (Yuji Yamazaki) received honoraria for lectures from Sumitomo Pharma Co., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, and Eli Lilly Japan K.K. H.K. received grants from Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Taisho Pharmaceutical Co. and Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd.; and honoraria for lectures from Sanofi K.K. and Taisho Pharmaceutical Co. Y.H. received grants from Sumitomo Pharma Co. and Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim Co., Ltd.; and honoraria for lectures from Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Daiichi Sankyo Company, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., MSD K.K. and Sumitomo Pharma Co. Y.S. has received grants from Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim Co., Ltd., ARKRAY Marketing, Inc., Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd., Terumo Corporation and Sumitomo Pharma Co.; and honoraria for lectures from Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nippon Becton Dickinson Company, Ltd., Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. and Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Y.Y. (Yuichiro Yamada) has received honoraria for lectures from Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd. and Teijin Pharma Limited. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CGM measured postprandial glucose concentrations in the Japanese set meal. (a) Time course curves for glucose levels. Data are the mean ± standard error of the mean. Serving × time p < 0.05 by two-way repeated measures ANOVA. (b) Postprandial glucose peak. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used. Data are the mean ± standard error of the mean. * p < 0.05 vs. 15 dish. (c,d) The iAUC0–120min (c) and the iAUC0–240min (d) were indicated, respectively. The iAUCs were analyzed by one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni adjustment. * indicates p < 0.05 vs. 15 dish.
Figure 2
Figure 2
CGM-measured postprandial glucose concentrations in the beef bowl meal. (a) Time course curves for the glucose levels. Data are the mean ± standard error of the mean. Serving × time p < 0.05 by two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. (b) Postprandial glucose peaks in the beef and rice bowl experiment. Data are the mean ± standard error of the mean, which were analyzed by Paired t test. ** p < 0.01 vs. 0 beef. (c,d) The iAUC0–120min (c) and the iAUC0–240min (d) were indicated, respectively. The iAUCs were analyzed by paired t test vs. 0 beef. ** p < 0.01 vs. 0 beef.
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