Satiety Evaluation of Mature Okra Flour-incorporated Biscuit

Okra is one of the top ten most consumed vegetable crops by Malaysians, with 1.7kg per capita consumption as reported by the Department of Statistic Malaysia in 2023. Among the total 65.6 thousand tonnes of output available, around 7.7% of the okra is turned into waste and partially fed to the livestock. Mature okra becomes unmarketable and turns into waste because it develops a tougher, more fibrous texture and a less desirable taste, unlike tender, immature okra, which is typically preferred for consumption. Studies in the literature found that mature okra also possesses comparable nutrient content or is even better than immature okra in certain aspects. Incorporation of agricultural waste, for instance, mature okra, into food products can offer significant health advantages besides reducing waste and also promotes a sustainable future, aligning with the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) goal No.12. Besides, transforming mature okra and other agricultural by-products into functional or value-added foods is an urge to address environmental and unsustainable use of natural resources. This study aims to evaluate the impact of mature okra flour-incorporated biscuits (MOFB) on perceived satiety and metabolomic responses. Mature okra flour will be prepared by dehydrating and grinding okra pods, then incorporated into biscuits at 10% substitution of wheat flour. This ratio of mature okra flour incorporation is pre-determined based on the previous phase study, as this ratio of incorporation results in a better nutritional profile and an acceptable sensorial score. Subsequently, thirty healthy young adults will participate in a single-blind, randomised trial comparing MOFB and control biscuits. Satiety will be assessed using the SLIM scale and blood glucose measurements over 165 minutes post-consumption. Blood samples will be collected for hormone and metabolomic analyses using ELISA, RIA, and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). The findings will help determine whether MOFB enhances satiety and alters metabolic profiles, supporting its potential as a functional food for appetite regulation.

Inclusion criteria

• Young adults aged between 18 and 39 years.
• Normal Body Mass Index (BMI).

Exclusion criteria

• Smokers.
• Pregnant or lactating women.
• Individuals with daily medication prescriptions for chronic metabolic conditions, cardiovascular management, or hormonal regulation.
• Use of daily medications/supplements that influence appetite regulation, metabolic signalling, or systemic metabolomic profiles, including:

• Hormonal contraceptives, glucocorticoids, and oral/injectable anti-obesity medications (e.g., GLP-1 agonists).
• Antihypertensives and lipid-lowering agents (statins).
• Chronic Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).
• Daily fibre supplements.