In a nutshell
The aim of this study was to see if fiber supplements could have beneficial effects in the treatment of diabetes. The main finding of the study was that fiber supplements improved blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Some background
In T2D, the body becomes insulin resistant. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood glucose. Insulin resistance is when the body no longer responds to insulin. Therefore, the body cannot control blood glucose effectively.
Diet and lifestyle are key components in the management of T2D. Some studies have indicated that fiber supplementation has helped control blood glucose and reduce the risk of heart disease. The aim of this report was to pool evidence from various clinical trials to determine if viscous supplements can affect blood glucose control.
Methods & findings
This study summarized the results from 28 different trials with 1,394 patients in total. All trials were longer than 3 weeks. They compared viscous fiber supplementation to a fiber-free supplement, normal diet or a placebo (controls).
An average dose of 10.9 g/day of viscous fiber for an average of 8 weeks showed significant reductions (by 0.58%) in HbA1c (average blood glucose control over the past 3 months) compared to the controls. An average dose of 13.1 g/day for an average of 8 weeks resulted in significant reductions in fasting blood glucose (by 0.82mmol/L) compared to control. An average dose of 10.5 g/day for an average of 6 weeks resulted in significantly reduced insulin resistance. There was no significant effect on fasting insulin levels after the supplementation of 15 g/day for 8 weeks.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that viscous fiber supplementation improved blood glucose control in T2D.
Published By :
Diabetes Care
Date :
Jan 07, 2019
