Abstract
Effects of commercially available “dietary fiber-DF”, which is made principally from galactomannan on postprandial plasma glucose and HbA1c for diabetic control were investigated.
1) Four normal healthy volunteers were divided into two groups: one group received as breakfast 330g of rice gruel with 10g of ume (plum) paste and a mixture of 0.5g of salt and 4.7g of DF, and the other group received the same diet but not containing DF. The two groups were compared in terms of changes in the plasma glucose level. Although no significant differences were observed, the group which received the breakfast added with DF tended to show lower postprandial plasma glucose levels.
2) The same experiment as above was conducted on NIDDM patients being treated with dietary restrictions. At 60 minutes after breakfast, the group given the breakfast added with DF showed significantly lower plasma glucose levels than the other group (p<0.05).
3) Ten diabetic patients who were judged as being under poor glycemic control because of insufficient dietary restrictions were given DF (5g of galactomannan) for every meal for three months. Six of them who continued taking DF for three months showed a significant reduction in the HbA1c level from 8.2±0.2% to 7.9±0.2% (p<0.05).
