Effects of High Performance Inulin Supplementation on Glycemic Status and Lipid Profile in Women with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, as a noncommunicable disease, is the main public health challenge in the 21st century. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus adjusted for the world population in Iran was 8% until the year 2010. Lipid levels are considered as important parameters to be evaluated, as high serum lipid levels are often reported as a complication in patients with diabetes mellitus. It is claimed that functional foods may improve complications of diabetes mellitus, so this study was designed to evaluate the effects of high performance inulin on glycemic status and lipid profile of women with type 2 diabetes. Methods: The study was a randomized controlled clinical trial. Forty-nine type 2 diabetic females (fiber intake < 30g/d, 25 < BMI < 35 kg/m2) were divided into two groups. Patients in the intervention group (n=24) received 10g/d inulin and patients in the control group (n=25) received 10g/d maltodextrin for 8 weeks. Glycemic status and lipid profile indices were measured pre and post intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (verision11.5). Paired, unpaired t-test and ANCOVA were used to compare quantitative variables. Results: Supplementation with inulin caused a significant reduction in FBS (8.50%), HbA1c (10.40%), total cholesterol (12.90%), triglyceride (23.60 %), LDLc (35.30 %), LDL-c/HDL-c ratio (16.25%) and TC/HDL-c ratio (25.20%) and increased HDL-c (19.90%). The changes for the control group parameters were not significant at the end of study. Conclusion: Inulin may help to control diabetes and its complications via improving glycemic and lipid parameters.