Abstract
In this study we evaluated the effects of low-viscosity water-soluble dietary fiber or indigestible dextrin (PF-L: dietary fiber content 55%, PF-C: 92%) on improvement of glucose tolerance in rats and humans.
1) The increase in blood glucose levels after sucrose loading (1.5g/kg body weight) was significantly reduced by addition of both PF-L (340μl/kg body weight) and PF-C (0.15g/kg body weight) in male Sprague-Dawley rats.
2) In eight healthy male adults, the increase in both blood glucose and insulin levels after a Trelan-G75 loading (=75g of glucose) was significantly reduced by addition of PF-L 40ml (=16g of dietary fiber).
3) PF-C was administered at 30g/day continuously for three months to five NIDDM patients who had been on 30kcal/kg body weight restricted diet for at least three months prior to the start of the study. At the third month of the study, four of the five patients showed obviously improved glucose tolerance following a test meal loading (459kcal) compared to the conditions at the start. In the remaining patient, glucose tolerance was improved up to the second months.
