Acceptance and feasibility of novel staple foods among individuals with type 2 diabetes in Singapore: a mixed methods study

IntroductionNovel staple foods (NVSFs) are defined as modified staple foods that provide healthier alternatives to type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients aiming to improve postprandial glycemic responses. We explored the expectations and perceptions of participants with T2D toward NVSFs alongside their feas...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hafizah Yusri, Sean Jun Leong Ou, Dimeng Yang, Marcus Ting, Wei Lin Liew, Salome A. Rebello, Chin Meng Khoo, E. Shyong Tai, Mei Hui Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Nutrition
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1594890/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850160802572533760
author Hafizah Yusri
Sean Jun Leong Ou
Dimeng Yang
Marcus Ting
Wei Lin Liew
Salome A. Rebello
Chin Meng Khoo
E. Shyong Tai
E. Shyong Tai
Mei Hui Liu
author_facet Hafizah Yusri
Sean Jun Leong Ou
Dimeng Yang
Marcus Ting
Wei Lin Liew
Salome A. Rebello
Chin Meng Khoo
E. Shyong Tai
E. Shyong Tai
Mei Hui Liu
author_sort Hafizah Yusri
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionNovel staple foods (NVSFs) are defined as modified staple foods that provide healthier alternatives to type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients aiming to improve postprandial glycemic responses. We explored the expectations and perceptions of participants with T2D toward NVSFs alongside their feasibility using a mixed methods approach.MethodsThree distinct NVSFs were investigated: (i) bread fortified with anthocyanins for carbohydrase inhibition; (ii) white rice fortified with fiber; and (iii) microfluidic gel noodles reduced in available carbohydrates. Sixteen individuals with T2D participated in a 5-week crossover study where NVSFs or control staple foods were consumed in mixed meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Participants wore continuous glucose monitoring devices during interventions to measure postprandial glycemic responses and interviews were conducted before and after interventions.ResultsQualitative analysis from interviews identified participants’ prior dietary choices, prior NVSF perceptions, expectations, and impressions, trade-offs between sensory and healthfulness, price, modification methods, and other socio-economic regular consumption considerations as key factors contributing to the acceptance of NVSFs. Among the NVSFs, the anthocyanin-fortified bread and fiber-fortified rice were preferred for their palatability, but not the microfluidic noodles. However, quantitative analysis from continuous glucose monitoring revealed only the microfluidic noodle meal demonstrating a significant reduction in 2-h iAUC value relative to its control from 160.2 ± 17.6 to 114.3 ± 12.2 mmol/L.min (mean ± SEM) p = 0.046.DiscussionThis highlights the challenge of attaining a balance between health and favorable sensory properties for these NVSFs, which may be attributed to their modification methods. We conclude that an alternative staple food with palatable taste and texture properties modified through the reduction of available carbohydrates may be an effective approach to enhance the acceptance and feasibility of modified staple foods for T2D management.
format Article
id doaj-art-4fea0c39ebd548e694e9a84b60f43989
institution OA Journals
issn 2296-861X
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Nutrition
spelling doaj-art-4fea0c39ebd548e694e9a84b60f439892025-08-20T02:23:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-06-011210.3389/fnut.2025.15948901594890Acceptance and feasibility of novel staple foods among individuals with type 2 diabetes in Singapore: a mixed methods studyHafizah Yusri0Sean Jun Leong Ou1Dimeng Yang2Marcus Ting3Wei Lin Liew4Salome A. Rebello5Chin Meng Khoo6E. Shyong Tai7E. Shyong Tai8Mei Hui Liu9Department of Food Science & Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Food Science & Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Food Science & Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Food Science & Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Food Science & Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Food Science & Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeIntroductionNovel staple foods (NVSFs) are defined as modified staple foods that provide healthier alternatives to type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients aiming to improve postprandial glycemic responses. We explored the expectations and perceptions of participants with T2D toward NVSFs alongside their feasibility using a mixed methods approach.MethodsThree distinct NVSFs were investigated: (i) bread fortified with anthocyanins for carbohydrase inhibition; (ii) white rice fortified with fiber; and (iii) microfluidic gel noodles reduced in available carbohydrates. Sixteen individuals with T2D participated in a 5-week crossover study where NVSFs or control staple foods were consumed in mixed meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Participants wore continuous glucose monitoring devices during interventions to measure postprandial glycemic responses and interviews were conducted before and after interventions.ResultsQualitative analysis from interviews identified participants’ prior dietary choices, prior NVSF perceptions, expectations, and impressions, trade-offs between sensory and healthfulness, price, modification methods, and other socio-economic regular consumption considerations as key factors contributing to the acceptance of NVSFs. Among the NVSFs, the anthocyanin-fortified bread and fiber-fortified rice were preferred for their palatability, but not the microfluidic noodles. However, quantitative analysis from continuous glucose monitoring revealed only the microfluidic noodle meal demonstrating a significant reduction in 2-h iAUC value relative to its control from 160.2 ± 17.6 to 114.3 ± 12.2 mmol/L.min (mean ± SEM) p = 0.046.DiscussionThis highlights the challenge of attaining a balance between health and favorable sensory properties for these NVSFs, which may be attributed to their modification methods. We conclude that an alternative staple food with palatable taste and texture properties modified through the reduction of available carbohydrates may be an effective approach to enhance the acceptance and feasibility of modified staple foods for T2D management.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1594890/fullstaple foodstype 2 diabetescontinuous glucose monitoringconsumer perceptionsinterviewsmixed method analysis
spellingShingle Hafizah Yusri
Sean Jun Leong Ou
Dimeng Yang
Marcus Ting
Wei Lin Liew
Salome A. Rebello
Chin Meng Khoo
E. Shyong Tai
E. Shyong Tai
Mei Hui Liu
Acceptance and feasibility of novel staple foods among individuals with type 2 diabetes in Singapore: a mixed methods study
Frontiers in Nutrition
staple foods
type 2 diabetes
continuous glucose monitoring
consumer perceptions
interviews
mixed method analysis
title Acceptance and feasibility of novel staple foods among individuals with type 2 diabetes in Singapore: a mixed methods study
title_full Acceptance and feasibility of novel staple foods among individuals with type 2 diabetes in Singapore: a mixed methods study
title_fullStr Acceptance and feasibility of novel staple foods among individuals with type 2 diabetes in Singapore: a mixed methods study
title_full_unstemmed Acceptance and feasibility of novel staple foods among individuals with type 2 diabetes in Singapore: a mixed methods study
title_short Acceptance and feasibility of novel staple foods among individuals with type 2 diabetes in Singapore: a mixed methods study
title_sort acceptance and feasibility of novel staple foods among individuals with type 2 diabetes in singapore a mixed methods study
topic staple foods
type 2 diabetes
continuous glucose monitoring
consumer perceptions
interviews
mixed method analysis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1594890/full
work_keys_str_mv AT hafizahyusri acceptanceandfeasibilityofnovelstaplefoodsamongindividualswithtype2diabetesinsingaporeamixedmethodsstudy
AT seanjunleongou acceptanceandfeasibilityofnovelstaplefoodsamongindividualswithtype2diabetesinsingaporeamixedmethodsstudy
AT dimengyang acceptanceandfeasibilityofnovelstaplefoodsamongindividualswithtype2diabetesinsingaporeamixedmethodsstudy
AT marcusting acceptanceandfeasibilityofnovelstaplefoodsamongindividualswithtype2diabetesinsingaporeamixedmethodsstudy
AT weilinliew acceptanceandfeasibilityofnovelstaplefoodsamongindividualswithtype2diabetesinsingaporeamixedmethodsstudy
AT salomearebello acceptanceandfeasibilityofnovelstaplefoodsamongindividualswithtype2diabetesinsingaporeamixedmethodsstudy
AT chinmengkhoo acceptanceandfeasibilityofnovelstaplefoodsamongindividualswithtype2diabetesinsingaporeamixedmethodsstudy
AT eshyongtai acceptanceandfeasibilityofnovelstaplefoodsamongindividualswithtype2diabetesinsingaporeamixedmethodsstudy
AT eshyongtai acceptanceandfeasibilityofnovelstaplefoodsamongindividualswithtype2diabetesinsingaporeamixedmethodsstudy
AT meihuiliu acceptanceandfeasibilityofnovelstaplefoodsamongindividualswithtype2diabetesinsingaporeamixedmethodsstudy