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Arabinoxylan fibre improves metabolic control in people with Type II diabetes

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 58, pages 621–628 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether diet supplementation with arabinoxylan-rich (AX)-fibre from wheat improves glycaemic control in Type II diabetes.

Design: Randomized, crossover intervention trial.

Setting: Monash Medical Centre.

Subjects: A total of 15 subjects with Type II diabetes.

Interventions: Over two 5-week periods, subjects supplemented their usual diet with control bread and muffins (50% whole wheat, 50% white flour) (control diet) or with AX-bread and muffins (50% whole wheat, 36% white flour, 14% AX fibre) (AX diet). Subjects completed a 7-day food diary. At 0 and 5 weeks, venous blood was collected for determination of fasting and 2 h glucose, insulin, fructosamine and blood lipids. Blood pressure, body weight and body fat were also determined. A 24 h faecal sample, from 12 subjects, was weighed and analysed for faecal polysaccharide as a marker for dietary compliance.

Results: Control and AX diets were similar except the AX diet supplied an additional 15.1 (12.0–18.5) (mean (95% confidence intervals)) g/day dietary fibre (P=0.000). Consumption of the AX diet increased faecal output by 61.5 (0.2–122.8) g/day (P=0.05) on a wet weight basis and significantly lowered fasting and 2 h plasma glucose, 2 h insulin and serum fructosamine (P=0.002, 0.000, 0.015, and 0.02, respectively). Blood lipids, body weight, fat mass and blood pressure remained unchanged.

Conclusions: A supplement of 15 g/day of AX-rich fibre can significantly improve glycaemic control in people with Type II diabetes.

Sponsorship: Food Science Australia, Melbourne; George Weston Foods Ltd, Sydney.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Food Science Australia for the financial support and for providing an Australian Food Industry Science Centre (AFISC) PhD Scholarship for Zhong Xian Lu. We also thank George Weston Foods Ltd, Australia for providing AX-rich by-product and for assistance in the extraction of AX-rich fibre.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Monash Medical Centre, Australia

    Z X Lu

  2. Department of Medicine, Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash University, Australia

    K Z Walker

  3. Department of Gastroenterology, Box Hill Hospital, Australia

    J G Muir

  4. Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin Hospital, Australia

    K O'Dea

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  1. Z X Lu
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  2. K Z Walker
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  3. J G Muir
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  4. K O'Dea
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Contributions

Guarantor: Dr ZX Lu

Contributors: JGM, KOD and ZXL were responsible for the study concept and design, ZXL conducted the study, ZXL and KZW interpreted the data and prepared the manuscript, JGM contributed to the final draft.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K Z Walker.

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Lu, Z., Walker, K., Muir, J. et al. Arabinoxylan fibre improves metabolic control in people with Type II diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 621–628 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601857

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601857

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