title: Guar gum improves insulin sensitivity, blood lipids, blood pressure, and fibrinolysis in healthy men.
abstract: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study was carried out in 25 healthy, nonobese middle-aged men to test the effect of guar gum on glucose and lipid metabolism, blood pressure, and fibrinolysis. Ten grams guar or placebo granulate was given three times a day for 6 wk with a 2-wk run-in before and a wash-out period after. Decreases in fasting blood glucose (P < 0.001), cholesterol (P < 0.001), triglycerides (P < 0.05), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity (P < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (P < 0.01), and diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.001) were seen during guar treatment when compared with placebo. Insulin sensitivity, measured with the euglycemic-clamp technique, increased (P < 0.01), adipose tissue-glucose uptake measured in vitro increased (P < 0.001), and 24-h urinary excretion of sodium and potassium increased (P < 0.001) during guar treatment. Fasting plasma insulin, renin, aldosterone, and fibrinogen concentrations as well as skeletal-muscle electrolytes, urinary catecholamines, and body weight remained unaltered. These findings support a role for guar in the treatment of the metabolic syndrome in which insulin resistance seems to play a pivotal role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Hospital, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Landin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tengborn
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D005685:Galactans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008351:Mannans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D053149:Plant Gums; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000652:urine; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005685:Galactans; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D008351:Mannans; D010919:Placebos; D053149:Plant Gums; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D012964:Sodium; C007894:guar gum; D005947:Glucose; D011188:Potassium