Low dose guar in a novel food product: improved metabolic control in non-insulin-dependent diabetes.
Sixteen non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients, mean age 60 years (range 47-69 years) and duration of diabetes 9 years (2-20 years), completed a randomized cross-over study of three 6-week periods separated by 2-week intervals to minimize carry-over effects, in which their usual bread was replaced by either control bread, guar bread (100 g guar/kg wheat flour), or control bread plus a guar granulate. The mean (+/- SEM) intake of guar taken in bread was 7.6 +/- 0.7 g/day (range 3.1-14.3 g/day). The granulate was taken in a dose of 5 g twice daily which provided 8.3 g guar/day. Significant reductions were found in glycosylated haemoglobin after guar bread (11.5 +/- 0.8% to 10.7 +/- 0.8%; p less than 0.02) and after guar granulate (11.2 +/- 0.8% to 10.6 +/- 0.7%; p less than 0.05) compared with control bread. Total cholesterol was also reduced significantly after both guar bread and guar granulate (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.02), the changes being due to LDL-cholesterol. Dietary intakes and body weight did not change. No significant side-effects were reported; 14 subjects found guar bread more palatable than guar granulate but 8 preferred the granulate for its convenience. We conclude that a lower than convential dose of guar can be effective and palatable. The incorporation of guar into food increases its metabolic benefits and palatability.
D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001939:Bread; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D005260:Female; D005685:Galactans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008351:Mannans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D053149:Plant Gums; D011897:Random Allocation
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005685:Galactans; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008351:Mannans; D053149:Plant Gums; C007894:guar gum