title: Guar gum in insulin-dependent diabetes: effects on glycemic control and serum lipoproteins.
abstract: We examined the effect of guar gum on glycemic control and serum lipid and lipoprotein profiles in mildly hypercholesterolemic patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. The study was done in a randomized, double-blind fashion with either guar gum or placebo added to the diet four times per day for 6 wk each. Fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c decreased significantly during the guar-gum diet, whereas the diurnal glucose profile was unchanged. In addition, serum low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol decreased by 20% and the ratio of LDL cholesterol to high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol by 28% during guar-gum therapy. No changes were seen in the placebo group. In conclusion, guar gum can improve glycemic control and decrease serum LDL-cholesterol concentrations in mildly hypercholesterolemic insulin-dependent diabetic patients and thus reduce risk factors for both micro- and macroangiopathic complications.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vuorinen-Markkola
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sinisalo
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Koivisto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D002149:Energy Intake; D005685:Galactans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008351:Mannans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053149:Plant Gums
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005685:Galactans; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008351:Mannans; D053149:Plant Gums; C007894:guar gum