Can dietary fructans lower serum glucose?

Journal of Diabetes

Volumn 3, Issue 1, 2011, Pages 58-66

  Bonsu, Nana K A ^a   Johnson, C Shanthi ^a   Mcleod, Katherine M ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF REGINA   (Canada)

Author keywords

Diabetes; Fiber; Glycemic index; Inulin; Nutrition

Indexed keywords

FRUCTAN; GLUCOSE;

ARTICLE; DIETARY INTAKE; GLUCOSE BLOOD LEVEL; HUMAN; HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA; HYPERTRIGLYCERIDEMIA; NON INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS; NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER; PRIORITY JOURNAL; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW;

BLOOD GLUCOSE; DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS; FRUCTANS; HUMANS; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS AS TOPIC;

EID: 79951784656     PISSN: 17530393     EISSN: 17530407     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-0407.2010.00099.x     Document Type: Article

References (48)

1. International Diabetes Federation. Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance. Available from: (accessed 8 March 2010).
2. Tirosh A, Shai I, Tekes-Manova D et al. Normal fasting plasma glucose levels and Type 2 diabetes in young men. New Engl J Med. 2005; 353: 1454-62.
3. Gannon MC, Nuttall FQ, Saeed A et al. An increase in dietary protein improved the blood glucose response in people with Type 2 diabetes. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003; 78: 734-41.
4. Gannon MC, Nuttall FQ. Control of blood glucose in Type 2 diabetes without weight loss by modification of diet composition. Nutr Metab. 2006; 3: 16-23.
5. Gannon MC, Nuttall FQ. Effect of a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet on blood glucose control in people with Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes. 2004; 53: 2375-82.
6. Weicker MO, Pfeiffer AFH. Metabolic effects of dietary fiber consumption and prevention of diabetes. J Nutr. 2008; 138: 439-42.
7. Schneeman BO. Fibre, inulin and oligofructose: similarities and differences. J Nutr. 1999; 129(Suppl.): 1424S-7S.
8. Engel JV. The benefits of eating fibre. Available from: (accessed 18 November 2007).
9. Vinik AJ, Jenkins DJA. Dietary fibre in management of diabetes. Diabetes Care. 1988; 11: 160-73.
10. Kaur N, Gupta AK. Applications of inulin and oligofructose in health and nutrition. J Biosci. 2002; 27: 703-14.
11. Hendry G. Evolutionary origins and natural functions of fructans. A climatological, biogeographic and mechanistic appraisal. New Phytol. 1993; 123: 3-14.
12. Niness KR. Inulin and oligofructose: what are they? J Nutr. 1999; 129(Suppl.): 1402S-6S.
13. De Leenheer L. Production and use of inulin: industrial reality with a promising future. In: Vanbekkum H, Roper H, Varagen F, eds. Carboydrates as Organic Raw Materials. New York: VCH Publishers Inc, 1996: 67-92.
14. Moshfegh AJ, Friday JE, Goldman JP et al. Presence of inulin and oligofructose in the diets of Americans. J Nutr. 1999; 129(Suppl.): 1407S-11S.
15. Diez M, Hornick JL, Baldwin P et al. Influence of a blend of fructooligosaccharides on nutrient digestibility and plasma metabolite concentrations in healthy beagles. Am J Vet Res. 1997; 58: 1238-42.
16. Diez M, Hornick JL, Baldwin P et al. The influence of sugar-beet fibre, guar gum and inulin on nutrient digestibility, water consumption and plasma metabolites in healthy beagle dogs. Res Vet Sci. 1998; 64: 91-6.
17. Rozan P, Nejdi A, Hidalgo S et al. Effects of lifelong intervention with an oligofructose-enriched inulin in rats on general health and lifespan. Br J Nutr. 2008; 100: 1192-9.
18. Reimer R, Russell J. Glucose tolerance, lipids, and GLP-1 secretion in JCR:LA-cp rats fed a high protein fiber diet. Obesity. 2008; 16: 40-6.
19. Jacob RF, Carr AB. Hierarchy of research design used to categorize the "strength of evidence" in answering clinical dental questions. J Prosthet Dent. 2000; 83: 137-52.
20. Luo L, Rizkall SW, Alamowitch C et al. Chronic consumption of short-chain fructooligosaccharides by healthy subjects decreased basal hepatic glucose production but had no effect on insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism. Am J Clin Nutr. 1996; 63: 939-45.
21. Schaafsma G, Meuling WGA, van Dokkum W et al. Effects of a milk product, fermented by lactobacillus, acidophilus and with fructo-oligosaccharides added, on blood lipids in male volunteers. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1998; 52: 436-40.
22. van Dokkum W, Wesendonk B, Srikumar T et al. Effect of nondigestible oligosaccharides on large bowel functions, blood lipid concentrations and glucose absorption in young healthy male subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1999; 53: 1-7.
23. Causey JL, Feirtag JM, Gallagher DD et al. Effects of dietary inulin on serum lipids, blood glucose, and the gastrointestinal environment in hypercholesterolemic men. Nutr Res. 2000; 20: 191-201.
24. Daubioul CA, Horsmans Y, Lambert P et al. Effects of oligofructose on glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: results of a pilot study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005; 59: 723-6.
25. Letexier D, Diriaison F, Beylot M. Addition of inulin to a moderately high-carbohydrate diet reduces hepatic lipogenesis and plasma triacylglycerol concentrations in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003; 77: 559-64.
26. Forcheron F, Beylot M. Long-term adminstration of inulin-type fructans has no significant lipid-lowering effect in normolipidemic humans. Metab Clin Exp. 2007; 56: 1093-8.
27. Jackson KG, Taylor GRJ, Clohessy AM et al. The effect of the daily intake of inulin on fasting lipid, insulin and glucose concentrations in middle-aged men and women. Br J Nutr. 1999; 82: 23-30.
28. Giacco R, Clemente G, Luongo D et al. Effects of short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides on glucose and lipid metabolism in mild hypercholesterolaemic individuals. Clin Nutr. 2004; 23: 331-40.
29. Yamashita K, Kawai K, Itakura K. Effect of fructo-oligosaccharides on blood glucose and serum lipids in diabetic subjects. Nutr Res. 1984; 4: 961-6.
30. Alles MS, de Roos NM, Bakx JC et al. Consumption of fructoologosaccharides does not favorably affect blood glucose and serum lipid concentrations in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999; 69: 64-9.
31. Luo J, Van Yperselle M, Rizkally S et al. Chronic consumption of short-chain fructooligosaccharides does not affect basal hepatic glucose production or insulin-resistance in Type 2 diabetes. J Nutr. 2000; 130: 1572-7.
32. Pai M, McCulloch M, Gorman J et al. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses: an illustrated, step-by-step guide. Natl Med J India. 2007; 17: 86-95.
33. Wright RW, Kuhn JE, Amendola A et al. Symposium integrating evidence-based medicine into clinical practice. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007; 89: 199-205.
34. Franck A, Coussement P. Multi-functional inulin. Food Ingredients and Analysis Int. 1997; October: 8-10.
35. Chandalia M, Garg A, Lutjohann D et al. Beneficial effects of high dietary fiber intake in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. New Eng J Med. 2000; 342: 1392-8.
36. Brennan CS. Dietary fibre, glycaemic response, and diabetes. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2005; 49: 560-70.
37. Hond ED, Geypens B, Ghoos Y. Effect of high performance chicory inulin on constipation. Nutr Research. 2000; 20: 731-6.
38. Beylot M. Effects of inulin-type fructans on lipid metabolism in animal and human beings. Br J Nutr. 2005; 93(Suppl.): S163-8.
39. Canadian Diabetes Association. Diabetes Facts. Available from: (accessed 6 April 2009).
40. Anderson HB, Ellgard LH, Bosaeus IG. Nondigestibililty characteristics of inulin and oligofructose in humans. J Nutr. 1999; 129(Suppl.): 1428S-30S.
41. Sands AL, Leidy HJ, Hamaker BR, Maguire P, Campbell WW. Consumption of the slow-digesting wazy maize starch leads to blunted plasma glucose and insulin response but does not influence energy expenditure or appetite in humans. Nutr Res. 2009; 29: 383-90.
42. Foster-Powell K, Holt SHA, Brand-Miller JC. International table of glycemic index and glycemic load values. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002; 76: 5-56.
43. Vander A, Sherman J, Luciano D. Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function, 8th edn. McGraw-Hill Higher Education, Toronto, 2001.
44. Whelan WJ. The wars of carbohydrates, part 6: what a name! IUBMB Life. 2008; 60: 555-6.
45. Brown WH, Foote CS. Organic Chemistry, 3rd edn. Thomson Learning, Toronto, 2002.
46. Portney LG, Watkins MP. Foundations of Clinical Research: applications to Practice, 2nd edn. Prentice-Hall, Toronto, 2000.
47. Johnson CS, Myers AM, Scholey LM et al. Outcome evaluation of the Canadian Center for Activity and Aging's Home Support Exercise Program for frail older adults. J Aging Phys Act. 2003; 11: 408-24.
48. Weicker MO, Pfeiffer AFH. Metabolic effects of dietary fiber consumption and prevention of diabetes. J Nutr. 2008; 138: 439-42.