Diabetic Control is Improved by Guar Gum and Wheat Bran Supplementation

Twenty-eight insulin-dependent diabetics were treated with different dietary regimes for three periods of three months. Initially they used a white flour bread (run-in period), then their daily bread ration was enriched with guar gum (mean dose: 29g), and then with wheat bran (mean dose: 33g) in a randomized crossover pattern. Fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels were measured on filter paper spots collected once weekly at home, and other biochemical values were measured monthly. No improvement in diabetic control was seen during the run-in period. Mean postprandial blood glucose decreased from 12.0 ± 3.8 mmol/l (mean ± SD) in the run-in period to 9.7 ± 2.8 mmol/l (p<0.01) in the guar period and to 9.7 ± 2.7 mmol/l (p<0.01) in the bran period. HbA1 decreased from 10.5 ± 2.1% in the run-in period to 9.7 ± 1.6% (<0.05) at the end of the guar period and 9.9 ± 1.2% (not significant) at the end of the bran period. Only modest changes were seen in serum-lipids - total cholesterol decreased significantly in the guar period, but not in the bran period. In this study both guar gum and wheat bran were well tolerated and produced a substantial decrease in postprandial blood glucose.