Fibre mixture to improve metabolic health

In this Wholefiberhealth project, we hypothesised that slowly fermentable fibers that increase the microbial products short-chain-fatty acids specifically in the distal colon have a high potential for influencing host metabolism and improving insulin sensitivity in adults with insulin resistance and overweight or obesity. Additional strategies for preventing obesity and related health problems are urgently warranted since in every region of the world, obesity prevalence has more than tripled since 1975. Our project gives the first indications that the WholeFiberTM dietary fiber product may be a plant-based (natural), cost-effective and attractive candidate per se that might help to prevent and treat obesity, improve peripheral insulin resistance and prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus. We executed a 12-week placebo-controlled, double blind, randomized, parallel designed study. Prescreened participants with obesity/overweight and insulin resistance were supplemented with WholeFiberTM in the amount of 15 g/day (2 x7.5 g/day) as a run in for 2-weeks and 30 g/day (2 x 15 g/day) in the remaining 10 weeks and isocaloric equivalent in the placebo group. Pre- and postintervention, participants were subjected to two clinical investigation days whereby several parameters including body composition, liver fat content, insulin sensitivity and metabolic markers were measured.

Our study has shown various tendencies indicative of an improvement in metabolic health status in the WholeFiber group as compared to the control group. With that said, data on gut microbiome composition, and more detailed data on insulin sensitivity, inflammatory markers, plasma short-chain fatty acids and appetite related hormones are still ongoing and are expected in the coming months. The inclusion of these parameters will give us a better and more complete understanding of the mechanisms behind the metabolic changes and help draw a concise conclusion to supplementation of WholeFiber in this population