New research reveals that 100 % orange juice provides a slower, more controlled rise in blood sugars than sugar sweetened drinks, challenging assumptions that all sugary drinks lead to similar blood sugar “spikes”.
The randomised controlled cross-over trial, published in the peer-reviewed journal Food & Function, involved 25 healthy young men who consumed four different drinks on separate days: 100 % orange juice, a 50 % orange juice drink with added sugars, a sugar-sweetened water drink and a pure glucose drink.
Researchers observed that, while pure orange juice and sugar-sweetened drinks can have the same overall sugar content, the body processes natural and added sugars differently thanks to the food structure.
100 % orange juice produced a slower rise – and lower “spike” – in blood sugars compared with the sugar-sweetened drinks – which were matched exactly to the balance of sugars in natural orange juice. While the rise and fall in blood sugars eventually evened out over two hours, the natural sugars from orange juice entered the bloodstream more gradually. This steadier absorption may help explain why some people experience a gradual feeling of energy after drinking 100 % orange juice, compared with the sharper “spike and dip” sometimes associated with sugar sweetened drinks.
Scientists think the difference comes down to structure. While soft drinks generally deliver sugar in isolation, 100 % orange juice contains what is known as a “fruit matrix” — the natural mix of tiny fibre fragments, plant bioactives, vitamins and minerals found in oranges and other whole fruit. This structure appears to moderate how quickly sugar enters the bloodstream.
Lead researcher, Professor Francisco A. Tomás-Barberán, of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), explained: “People often assume that because fruit juice contains natural sugars from the fruit, it must act in the same way as a sugary soft drink. Our findings clearly show this is not the case. “When sugars are consumed within the natural fruit matrix of 100 % orange juice, absorption is slower and the early blood glucose peak is lower. Food structure matters. “Although public health guidance often groups all “free sugars” together, our study demonstrates that sugars naturally present in fruit juice do not produce the same metabolic response as exactly the same sugars added to drinks.”
The concept of blood sugar spikes has become a hot topic, with influencers and some health commentators urging people to avoid rapid glucose rises.
Award-winning dietitian Dr. Carrie Ruxton commented: “People are now so worried about ‘sugar spikes’ that some are using wearable technologies, like glucose monitors, to test their reaction to different foods and drinks. While I don’t think this is helpful unless recommended by a doctor, it’s reassuring to know that 100 % orange juice is better for blood glucose control than other types of sweet drinks. “Even with the same overall sugars, the natural fruit matrix of 100 % orange juice slows down absorption creating a more gradual rise in blood glucose levels. That could mean more sustained energy levels after your morning glass juice. The fruit matrix in 100 % juices also delivers vitamin C for immune function and skin, potassium for blood pressure and a range of fruit bioactives for mental function and cardiovascular health”.
The open-access study is available to view in full.
Consuming Lacprodan® ISO.WaterShake whey protein isolate before meals can help control blood sugar in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), clinical research from Arla Foods Ingredients shows.
GDM occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or use it effectively to maintain normal blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Elevated blood glucose – known as hyperglycaemia – increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for both babies and mothers. Those with GDM are therefore advised to control their blood glucose levels through measures including diet, weight management and moderate exercise.1,2
Arla Foods Ingredients partnered with Aarhus University and the Steno Diabetes Center in Aarhus to conduct a study on the effects of whey protein on GDM. Published in Diabetes Care, it examines how consuming Lacprodan® ISO.WaterShake before eating influences blood glucose rises in the three hours after meals.2
In the randomised, placebo-controlled, single-blinded crossover trial, 12 women with GDM and 12 with normal glucose tolerance consumed whey protein or a placebo 30 minutes before a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). This is the standard diagnostic tool used to determine whether a pregnant woman has GDM.
The results showed that pre-meal consumption of 20 g Lacprodan® ISO.WaterShake reduced post-meal blood glucose peaks by -1 mmol/L (-18 mg/dl) in those with GDM, and by -0.7 mmol/L (-12.6 mg/dl) in those without.
In home settings, pre-meal doses of 15-30 g of the whey protein consistently lowered post-meal blood glucose levels and reduced fluctuations in women with GDM.
Lise Høj Brunsgaard, Research Scientist at Arla Foods Ingredients, said: “These findings suggest that whey protein may be a safe, effective and promising nutritional strategy to support blood glucose management in women with GDM. For this study, our Lacprodan® ISO.WaterShake whey protein isolate was selected due to its high purity and rapid absorption profile, which made it suitable for investigating its potential role in maternal nutrition during pregnancy.”
Globally, hyperglycaemia in pregnancy is estimated to affect 19.6 % of live births. Of these cases, 79.2 % are due to GDM, accounting for 15.6 % overall, while the remainder result from type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes.
The new study builds on previous research showing whey protein’s benefits for glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes.3 Mechanistic studies suggest this effect is linked to enhanced beta-cell function and reduced insulin clearance.4
1International Diabetes Federation ‘Diabetes Atlas: 11th Edition’ (2025)
2Smedegaard, S. et al. ‘Premeal Whey Protein Lowers Postprandial Blood Glucose in Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized, Crossover Clinical Trial’ Diabetes Care (2025) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40261798/
3Ashley, K. et al. ‘Identifying Behavioural Determinants to Uptake and Adherence to a Whey Protein Supplement for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes: A Qualitative Interview Study.’ Nutrients (2022) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35276924/
4Smith, K. et al. ‘Pre-Meal Whey Protein Alters Postprandial Insulinemia by Enhancing β-Cell Function and Reducing Insulin Clearance in T2D’ J Clin Endocrinol Metab (2023) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36734166/
The blood pressure lowering effect of nitrate-rich beetroot juice in older people may be due to specific changes in their oral microbiome, according to the largest study of its kind.
Researchers at the University of Exeter conducted the study, published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine, comparing responses between a group of older adults to that of younger adults. Previous research has shown that a high nitrate diet can reduce blood pressure, which can help reduce risk of heart disease.
Nitrate is crucial to the body and is consumed as a natural part of a vegetable-rich diet. When the older adults drank a concentrated beetroot juice ‘shot’ twice a day for two weeks*, their blood pressure decreased – an effect not seen in the younger group.
The new study, funded by a BBSRC Industrial Partnership Award, provides evidence that this outcome was likely caused by the suppression of potentially harmful bacteria in the mouth. An imbalance between beneficial and harmful oral bacteria can decrease the conversion of nitrate (abundant in vegetable-rich diets) to nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is key to healthy functioning of the blood vessels, and therefore the regulation of blood pressure.
Study author Professor Anni Vanhatalo, of the University of Exeter, said: “We know that a nitrate-rich diet has health benefits, and older people produce less of their own nitric oxide as they age. They also tend to have higher blood pressure, which can be linked to cardiovascular complications like heart attack and stroke. Encouraging older adults to consume more nitrate-rich vegetables could have significant long term health benefits. The good news is that if you don’t like beetroot, there are many nitrate-rich alternatives like spinach, rocket, fennel, celery and kale.”
The study recruited 39 adults aged under 30, and 36 adults in their 60s and 70s through the NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility. The trial was supported by the Exeter Clinical Trials Unit. Each group spent two weeks taking regular doses of nitrate-rich beetroot juice and two weeks on a placebo version of the juice with nitrate stripped out. Each condition had a two week “wash out” period in between to reset. The team then used a bacterial gene sequencing method to analyse which bacteria were present in the mouth before and after each condition.
In both groups, the make-up of the oral microbiome changed significantly after drinking the nitrate-rich beetroot juice, but these changes differed between the younger and older age groups.
The older age group experienced a notable decrease in the mouth bacteria Prevotella after drinking the nitrate rich juice, and an increase in the growth of bacteria known to benefit health such as Neisseria. The older group had higher average blood pressure at the start of the study, which fell after taking the nitrate-rich beetroot juice, but not after taking the placebo supplement.
Co-author Professor Andy Jones, of the University of Exeter, said: “This study shows that nitrate-rich foods alter the oral microbiome in a way that could result in less inflammation, as well as a lowering of blood pressure in older people. This paves the way for larger studies to explore the influence of lifestyle factors and biological sex in how people respond to dietary nitrate supplementation.”
Dr Lee Beniston FRSB, Associate Director for Industry Partnerships and Collaborative Research and Development at BBSRC, said: “This research is a great example of how bioscience can help us better understand the complex links between diet, the microbiome and healthy ageing. By uncovering how dietary nitrate affects oral bacteria and blood pressure in older adults, the study opens up new opportunities for improving vascular health through nutrition. BBSRC is proud to have supported this innovative partnership between academic researchers and industry to advance knowledge with real-world benefits.”
The paper is titled ‘Ageing modifies the oral microbiome, nitric oxide bioavailability and vascular responses to dietary nitrate supplementation’ and is published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine.
Rockstar Energy is looking to shake up the energy drinks category with the launch of Rockstar Energy Blood Orange Zero Sugar – a limited-edition flavour in a brand-new 330 ml £1 price-marked pack (PMP) can. The latest format and flavour is designed to broaden appeal and bring new shoppers into the category, by targeting non-traditional energy drinkers with a more accessible option.
The Blood Orange variant will launch as an initial exclusive to the convenience channel in the UK and taps into a popular summer flavour with its refreshing citrus taste, and a key stimulant flavour already, with citrus worth more than £45m1.
Debuting in a new 330 ml slim can, the brand is looking to address a common barrier to entry for new energy drink buyers – the larger 500 ml format. Rockstar Energy can now offer a more approachable size and good value price point for those looking to try something new, representing a different, yet affordable on-the-go option for consumers.
1NielsenIQ RMS, Total Coverage, Stimulants, Carlsberg Britvic Defined, Sales Value, 52wks w/e 03.05.25
