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International Journal of Bioprinting 3D-printed diabetic diet

lower (p < 0.05) than that of the high GI (rice powder) difference, the carbohydrate content and the glycemic
group (Figure 5C) and showed no significant difference loading per unit mass in the food ink are significantly
compared to the low GI (vegetable powder) group, lower, which is more well-suited for the glycemic control
suggesting that the 3D food ink is suitable to be used as for patients suffering from diabetes. Therefore, we decided
diabetic diet. The glucose AUC, which is a useful index to formulate 3D-printed food items for personalized
for evaluating the glucose loading for a specific duration nutrition based on total mass instead of total carbohydrates
after food ingestion, showed no difference among the three in subsequent studies. The peak glucose level (Figure S4C
groups (Figure S3 in Supplementary File). in Supplementary File) showed a trend similar to the AUC
In another set of experiments, the three groups were in the equal-carbohydrate case. The lower blood glucose
fed with each type of food containing equal amount of levels were primarily attributed to the food’s formation
total carbohydrates, calculated based on the nutritional rather than the 3D printing process. The purpose of 3D
values on the food label or reported in literature (Table S3 printing is twofold. First, 3D food printing is employed to
in Supplementary File). In the case of equal-carbohydrates create visually pleasant food items using functional food
intake, the glucose AUC of the food ink showed no compositions to control blood glucose levels. Second, 3D
significant difference compared to that of the rice powder food printing can personalize foods, which are tailored to
but was larger than that of the vegetable powder (Figure the nutritional needs of patients suffering from diabetes
S4A and S4B in Supplementary File). This difference may and its complications.
be attributed to the 1.51-fold mass increase of the food
ink over the rice flour group and a 1.3-fold increase over 3.6. Achieving personalized nutrition for patients
the vegetable group. Although the total carbohydrate was with diabetic complications by 3D food printing
kept equal in all three groups, the food ink group had a In this study, several dragon-boat-festival-themed items,
substantially higher total fat content due to the inclusion of including dragon boats with a mass of 9.03 g (Figure 6A),
milk powder. It has been reported that foods rich in fat may arch bridges with a mass of 10.65 g (Figure 6B), bowls with
reduce insulin sensitivity and adversely influence glucose a mass of 3.49 g (Figure 6C), and stuffed zongzi (a type of
metabolism. Although the glucose AUC of the food rice dumpling for the dragon boat festival) with a mass
56
ink group and the rice powder group shows no statistical of 9.52 g (Figure 6D), were created by collaborative 3D

Figure 6. Food items 3D-printed with Ink-M1-1 and Ink-M2-1. (All items, except for the leave, peddle, and water and quinoa in the bowl, are 3D-printed.)
(A) Dragon boat. (B) Arch bridge. (C) Bowl. (D) Zongzi (rice dumpling) with filling. (E) A food platter adorned with 3D-printed food items based on the
theme of dragon boat festival, a traditional Chinese festival. (F) Dragon boats with various ratios of Ink-M1-1 and Ink-M2-1.

Volume 10 Issue 2 (2024) 306 doi: 10.36922/ijb.1862