Effect of the consumption of β-lactoglobulin and epigallocatechin-3-gallate with or without calcium on glucose tolerance in C57BL/6 mice.

Interactions between β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) may modulate their health benefits. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the synergistic effect of consuming β-lg and EGCG complexes on glucose tolerance of C57BL/6 male mice given an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and randomized to one of the following treatments administered prior to the OGTT: 1) simulated milk ultrafiltrate (SMUF(-)), 2) SMUF(-) + EGCG, 3) SMUF(-) + β-lg, 4) SMUF(-) + EGCG + β-lg, 5) SMUF + calcium (SMUF(+)) and 6) SMUF(+) + EGCG + β-lg. We found no significant between-group difference in postprandial glucose response. However, when mice were separated in those who received β-lg from those who did not, we found that the latter displayed significantly higher postprandial glucose concentrations. Our results support the beneficial impact of β-lg on glycemic control and suggest that concomitant EGCG or calcium consumption does not improve this effect.