World's first tagatose-containing chocolate is very low in glycemic load

Aug 13 2004

Spherix Incorporated today announced that the world's first tagatose-containing chocolate, Miada(R) ChocoLite(R), is very low in Glycemic Load (GL) and estimated relative Glycemic Index (GI), according to newly performed studies.

Miada Corporation Limited's recent press release, stated that research commissioned by Miada and conducted by leading nutrition researcher Dr. Alison Wallace at the New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Ltd., showed that the chocolate tested had a GL of 1 and an estimated GI of 8. Readings below 10 for GL and below 55 for GI are considered low.

Earlier this year, Sydney University's Glycaemic Index Research Service (SUGiRS) tested tagatose in a research study and stated that, compared to glucose, which had glycemic and insulinaemic responses of 100%, tagatose produced very low glycemic and insulinaemic responses of only 3%.

Miada(R) ChocoLite(R) is the world's first chocolate to undergo GL testing, believed to be the most scientifically accurate way to inform consumers of how the recommended serving size of a particular food affects blood glucose levels relative to glucose sugar. This is particularly important to individuals wishing to eat healthier and reduce the amount of insulin the body produces, which may affect conditions such as the onset of Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

The study found that, when tagatose, which produces zero glucose, was used, a recommended serving of 25-grams of Miada(R) ChocoLite(R) dark chocolate produced an equivalent blood glucose response of only 1-gram of glucose sugar. Miada(R) ChocoLite(R) also has significantly fewer calories than standard chocolate. Sales of these products are expected to begin in New Zealand and Australia later this year.

Tagatose tastes and acts like table sugar, and can be used as a sugar replacement, or to improve the mouthfeel, sweetness, and flavor profile of products containing high-intensity sweeteners. With the growing worldwide market for low glycemic healthy food and beverages, tagatose provides new and exciting opportunities for developing products that have a low-glycemic effect and have a great taste. Additional benefits of tagatose include its documented prebiotic effect, a food characteristic increasingly sought as an aid to colon health; and its FDA-recognized tooth friendliness.

For more information, visit Miada's websites at http://www.miadasport.com or http://www.chocolite.co.nz.