Long-term effects of dietary fiber on glucose tolerance and gastric emptying in noninsulin-dependent diabetic patients.

Effects of long-term (2 months) supplementation of diet with 20 g of guar gum and 10 g of wheat bran on metabolic control was studied in 12 obese, poorly controlled noninsulin-dependent diabetic patients. Addition of fiber reduced urinary excretion of glucose from 30.5 +/- 6 to 8.3 +/- 2 g/24 h, (p less than 0.025), fasting plasma glucose concentration from 301 +/- 24 to 184 +/- 15 mg/dl (p less than 0.025), and plasma cholesterol concentration from 277 +/- 24 to 193 +/- 9 mg/dl (p less than 0.025). No significant changes were observed in the patients weight and serum concentrations of triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins, free fatty acids, and insulin. Addition of fiber also delayed gastric emptying of liquids and solids. This effect became statistically significant 60 and 90 min after intake of a test meal for liquids and solids, respectively. We conclude that addition of guar and bran to the diet resulted in long-term improvement of metabolic control in these patients and that delayed gastric emptying may be one of the mechanisms responsible for this beneficial effect.