OBJECTIVE:

To examine the effects of sugar beet pectin (SBP) and polydextrose (PDX) on fasting plasma glucose concentration, serum lipid profile and postprandial glycemia in middle-aged subjects with abnormal glucose metabolism.

DESIGN:

A placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel double-blinded study.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING:

Subjects were recruited via newspaper announcements. Seventy subjects were recruited of which 66 completed the study.

INTERVENTION:

The intervention period lasted for 12 weeks during which the subjects consumed a drink enriched with either SBP (n=22) or PDX (n=22) or without fiber enrichment (control group, n=22). The daily dose of the drinks was 4 dl. The subjects were also given nutrition counseling. Postprandial glycemia was examined in 24 subjects (n=8 in each group) at 0 and 12 weeks after a standardized breakfast.

RESULTS:

Fasting plasma glucose concentration did not change in the SBP and PDX groups, whereas it increased in the control group (P=0.007). On the contrary, the glycosylated hemoglobin A1(c) increased marginally but significantly (P< or =0.05) in the intervention groups without a change in the control group. In postprandial glycemia, no differences between the groups were found. In both the SBP and PDX groups, fasting serum High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentration increased (P< or =0.05) without a change in the control group. Total to HDL-cholesterol ratio decreased in all groups (P< or =0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

It was found that SBP and PDX do not have positive effects on fasting or postprandial plasma glucose concentrations or serum lipid profile in subjects with abnormal glucose metabolism.

Published online 8 March 2006.