Cut and paste :"Most health organizations recommend an increase in consumption of dietary fiber since high fiber diets have been reported to have beneficial health effects in individuals with diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, colon cancer, and diabetes. However, the median dietary fiber intakes in the United States were 17.0 and 13.8 g/d for men and women, respectively. Maturity onset diabetes, characterized by elevated blood glucose levels and insulin resistance, has increased in prevalence in the US as the average age of our population increases. This study was conducted to determine whether a beneficial interaction occurred between native corn fiber in cornmeal and high-amylose cornstarch on health parameters. No gender difference was observed. Average glucose, insulin, and glucagon values were usually lower after the consumption of test meals containing corn fiber. Insulin and glucose responses, but not glucagon response, were significantly greater after products made with amylopectin than with amylose. Average plasma glucose and insulin after amylose test meals were approximately half of those after amylopectin test meals. The presence of fiber from cornmeal had less effect on the response curves of glucose, insulin, and glucagon than did the type of starch consumed. Health providers should be aware of the health benefits of high amylose starch. Although the corn fiber did not greatly reduce glucose or insulin, other health benefits occur with increased fiber intake. Nutritionists, scientists, and health care professionals will benefit by having additional knowledge of this low glycemic index (slowly digested starch) food source. "