Poster Presentation Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Conference 2024

Evaluating whole fruit feijoa powder (Feiolix®) for type 2 diabetes prevention: the FERDINAND study (#255)

Ibrahim Mohamed 1 2 , Ivana Sequeira-Bisson 1 2 , Kok Hong Leiu 1 2 , Jack Penhaligan 1 2 , Amy Liu 2 , Shivaanee Ram 2 , Kurt Grayson 1 2 , Rinki Murphy 1 3 , Lindsay Plank 4 , Sally Poppitt 1 2 3 , Jennifer Miles-Chan 1 2
  1. High Value Nutrition National Science Challenge, Auckland, New Zealand
  2. Human Nutrition Unit, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
  3. Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
  4. University of Auckland, Department of Surgery, Auckland, New Zealand

Background: Low energy diets (LEDs) are effective for body weight (BW) loss, with consequent improvement of type 2 diabetes (T2D) biomarkers1-3. In a pilot study in individuals with T2D, whole fruit feijoa powder, rich in polyphenols and abscisic acid4-6, elicited similar improvements in T2D biomarkers7. However, BW data was not presented. Furthermore, longer-term studies alongside LEDs, in individuals with prediabetes, have not been undertaken. The double-blind FERDINAND study investigated daily consumption of 1.15g whole fruit feijoa powder (Feiolix®) on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and BW, in a multiethnic New Zealand cohort with overweight and prediabetes (FPG: 5.6-6.9 mmol/L).

Methods: 97 adult participants (79 females, 18 males) were randomised to receive either 1.15 grams/day of Feiolix® (intervention, n=48) or 2.3 grams/day of microcrystalline cellulose (control, n=49) for 6 months. Participants underwent 2-months LED-induced weight loss (Cambridge Weight Plan®) followed by 4-months weight loss maintenance, with best practice diet advice from registered dieticians. FPG and BW were measured at baseline and 2 (n=69), 4 (n=65) and 6 (n=62) months. Data was analysed using unadjusted linear mixed models and Tukey’s post hoc test.

Results: Over the 6-month period, BW decreased in both diet groups (P<0.001), with no interaction observed between time and diet group (P=0.178). However, the interaction approached significance for FPG (P=0.054), with FPG lower in intervention compared to control. Within the intervention group, FPG was lower than baseline at all timepoints (2-months: P<0.001; 4-months: P=0.007; 6-months: P=0.001). Within the control group, FPG was lower than baseline at 2 (P<0.001) and 4 (P=0.014) months, but not at 6-months (P=1.0).

Discussion: These preliminary findings indicate that daily consumption of Feiolix® may elicit improvements in FPG in a multiethnic population with prediabetes. Further analyses including other T2D biomarkers is being conducted, to elucidate the contribution of feijoa powder in T2D prevention.