Effects of short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides on glucose and lipid metabolism in mild hypercholesterolaemic individuals

Abstract Background : The intake of 10 g/day of short-chain-fructo-oligosaccharides (sc-FOS) has been shown to increase significantly bifidus counts and to produce high amounts of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), presumed to influence glucose and lipid metabolism. Aim : To evaluate the effects of moderate intake of sc-FOS on glucose and lipid metabolism in individuals with mild hypercholesterolaemia. Design : A randomized double-blind sequential cross-over study. Subjects and methods : Thirty subjects of both genders (20 M/10 F), mean age 45.5±9.9 years ( M ±SD), BMI 26.6±2.2 kg/m 2 , with plasma cholesterol >5.17 and (R) ) (10.6 g/day) or placebo (maltodextrine plus aspartame 15 g/day) with tea and/or coffee for a duration of 2 months and thereafter switched to the other treatment for additional 2 months. Plasma glucose, total and lipoprotein (VLDL, LDL, HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were measured in the fasting state at the end of run-in and of each treatment period. At the end of the two treatment periods, patients consumed a standard test meal (protein 15%, carbohydrate 34%, fat 51%, kJ 3988) 1 h after the administration of 5.3 g of sc-FOS or placebo; plasma glucose, insulin, free fatty acid (FFA) and triglyceride responses to the test meal were evaluated. Results : No significant difference in fasting parameters was detected between the two treatments. After sc-FOS and placebo plasma cholesterol levels were, respectively, 6.47±0.70 and 6.44±0.78 mmol/l (n.s.) and plasma triglycerides were 1.53±0.71 and 1.56±0.53 mmol/l (n.s.). No significant differences were observed in cholesterol and triglyceride content of VLDL, LDL and HDL and in plasma Apo A1 levels; conversely, fasting plasma Lp(a) concentrations were significantly increased after sc-FOS (37±38 vs. 33±35 mg/dl; P P Conclusions : A moderate intake of sc-FOS has no major effects on lipid metabolism, both in the fasting and in the postprandial period, in individuals with mild hypercholesterolaemia. A small but significant increase of Lp(a) concentrations was observed with sc-FOS consumption together with a reduction of the postprandial insulin response; however, the clinical relevance of these small effects is unclear.