No long-term benefits of supplementation with arabinogalactan on serum lipids and glucose.
We conducted a 6-month randomized, double-blind, parallel trial in which subjects consumed their usual diet plus arabinogalactan, a functional fiber isolated from either larch or tamarack. Healthy human subjects (28 men, 26 women) ages 18 to 55 years old consumed 8.4 g/day larch arabinogalactan (n=18), tamarack arabinogalactan (n=19), or a placebo of rice starch (n=17). Serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B, apolipoprotein A-I, glucose, and insulin were measured monthly. Three-day food records, body weight, blood pressure, and gastrointestinal symptom surveys were obtained monthly. Serum lipids seemed to decrease at month 2, but there were no statistically significant differences among diets for any measured endpoint. Arabinogalactan is a recognized soluble fiber and is currently being used in products because it is not viscous, is easily incorporated into foods and beverages, and is well accepted by consumers.
Marett
Rebecca
R
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, St Paul, 55108, USA.
Slavin
Joanne L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D015930:Diet Records; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005685:Galactans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001053:Apolipoproteins; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005685:Galactans; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; C005653:arabinogalactan