Oligofructose-enriched inulin improves some inflammatory markers and metabolic endotoxemia in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES

Anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches are considered for the management of type 2 diabetes and for the prevention of its complications. There is limited evidence regarding the effects of prebiotics on inflammation, especially in patients with type 2 diabetes. This trial aims to examine the effects of oligofructose-enriched inulin on glycemic status, inflammation markers, and metabolic endotoxemia in female patients.

METHODS

Over a period of 8 wk, 52 women with body mass indices of >25 kg/m(2) but <35 kg/m(2) with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to either an intervention group, in which participants were given oligofructose-enriched inulin (n = 27, consuming 10 g/d of oligofructose-enriched inulin), or to a control group, in which participants were given maltodextrin (n = 25, consuming 10 g/d of maltodextrin). Fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, interleukin-10, and plasma lipopolysaccharide were measured before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed with the use of SPSS software version 13. Paired and unpaired Student t tests and analysis of covariance were used to compare quantitative variables.

RESULTS

Oligofructose-enriched inulin caused a significant decrease in the levels of fasting plasma glucose (19.2 mg/dL; 9.50%), glycosylated hemoglobin (1.0%; 8.40%), interleukin-6 (1.3 pg/mL; 8.15%), tumor necrosis factor-α (3.0 pg/mL; 19.80%) and plasma lipopolysaccharide (6.0 EU/mL; 21.95%) as compared with maltodextrin (P < 0.05). Decreases in levels of interferon-γ (0.3 pg/mL; 16.50%) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (3.9 ng/mL; 31.70%) and an increase in the level of interleukin-10 (0.4 pg/mL, 11.50%) were not significant in the oligofructose-enriched inulin group as compared with the maltodextrin group.

CONCLUSIONS

In women with type 2 diabetes and suboptimal daily dietary fiber intake, oligofructose-enriched inulin may help to modulate some inflammatory markers.