The goals of this clinical trial are to learn if Nextida-GC (a peptide derived from collagen) will reduce postprandial glucose responses when taken 30 minutes before, 10 minutes before or with the first bite of a breakfast test-meal consisting or bread, margarine and jam with a drink coffee, tea or water (each subject will choose a drink and have the same drink each time).

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does Nextida-GC reduce glucose responses more than whey protein?

What are the effects of Nextida-GC and whey protein on plasma glucose and serum insulin responses when given 30 minutes before eating, 10 minutes before eating, or with the breakfast test meal?

Overall, is it better to take Nextida-GC 30 minutes before eating, 10 minutes before eating, or with the breakfast test meal?

Participants will:

Come to the research center (INQUIS Clinical Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 8 separate occasions (with bewteen 3 and 14 days between visits) after an overnight fast of at least 10 hours. Each participant will undergo all 8 treatments (one treatment per visit):

Block 1

• 10 grams Nextida-GC in water 30 minutes before eating the test-meal
• 10 grams Nextida-GC in water 10 minutes before eating the test-meal
• water 30min before eating and 10g Nextida-GC in water with the test-meal
• water 30min before eating, and water with the test-meal

Block 2

• 10 grams whey protein in water 30 minutes before eating the test-meal
• 10 grams whey protein in water 10 minutes before eating the test-meal
• water 30min before eating and 10g whey protein in water with the test-meal
• water 30min before eating, and water with the test-meal

The order of the blocks will be randomized and the order of the treatments within the blocks will be randomized.

On each occasions finger-stick blood samples for measuring glucose and insulin will be obtained 30, 10 and 0 minutes before starting to eat the test-meal and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes after the first bite of the test-meal.

The main outcome of the study is the area under the curve of plasma glucose from 0 to 180 minutes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Non-pregnant, non-lactating.
• BMI 18.5 to 35.0 kg/m² inclusive.
• n=20 with prediabetes: fasting glucose 5.6-6.9 mmol/L and/or HbA1c 5.7-6.4%.
• n=12 without prediabetes: fasting glucose <5.6 mmol/L and HbA1c <5.7%.
• Systolic blood pressure <160mmHg and diastolic blood pressure <100mmHg.
• Willing to abstain from unusual strenuous exercise and consuming alcoholic drinks for 24 hours before study days.
• Willing to refrain from smoking tobacco or using marijuana in any form (including but not limited to smoking, vaping, edibles, tinctures, or other ingestible or inhalable preparations) for 12h before and during study visits.
• Willing to consume study products that contain animal derived ingredients
• Understand the study procedures and willing to provide informed consent to participate in the study and authorization to release relevant protected health information to the study investigator.
• Eligible to receive income in Canada and covered by a health insurance plan such as OHIP.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Failure to meet any one of the inclusion criteria.
• Major trauma or surgical event within 3 months of screening.
• Use of supplements containing collagen and/or high dose of chromium (>500mcg).
• The presence of any laboratory result, health condition, illness or drug use that increases risk to the subject or to others or may affect the results, as judged by the Qualified Investigator.
• Unwillingness or inability to comply with experimental procedures and to follow INQUIS safety guidelines.
• Known intolerance, sensitivity, or allergy to any ingredients in the study test meals.
• Subject is currently participating or recently (within 30 days of screening) participated in a clinical trial involving long-term exposure (greater than 24 hours) to an investigational drug, nutritional supplement, or lifestyle modification

Those measuring glucose and insulin