The effect of a fibre supplement compared to a healthy diet on body composition, lipids, glucose, insulin and other metabolic syndrome risk factors in overweight and obese individuals

摘要

Optimum levels and types of dietary fibre that provide the greatest beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome risk factors in overweight andnobese individuals have yet to be determined in clinical trials. The present parallel design study compared the effects of fibre intake from anhealthy diet v. a fibre supplement (psyllium) or a healthy diet plus fibre supplement on fasting lipids, glucose, insulin and body compo-nsition. Overweight/obese adults were randomised to either control (with placebo), fibre supplement (FIB), healthy eating plus placebon(HLT) or healthy eating plus fibre supplement (HLT–FIB). There was a significant increase in fibre intake in HLT–FIB, HLT and FIBngroups up to 59, 31 and 55 g, respectively, at 12 weeks when compared to control (20 g). Weight, BMI and % total body fat were signifi-ncantly reduced in FIB and HLT–FIB groups, with weight and BMI significantly reduced in the HLT group compared with control atn12 weeks. HLT–FIB and HLT groups had significant reductions in TAG and insulin compared with control at 6 and 12 weeks, and in insulinncompared with the FIB group at 12 weeks. The HLT–FIB, HLT and FIB groups all had significant reductions in total cholesterol andnLDL-cholesterol compared with control after 6 and 12 weeks. The present study demonstrated that simply adding psyllium fibrensupplementation to a normal diet was sufficient to obtain beneficial effects in risk factors. However, a high-fibre diet consisting of anpsyllium supplement plus fibre from a healthy diet provided the greatest improvements in metabolic syndrome risk factors.