Acute Effects of Dietary Fiber in Starchy Foods on Glycemic and Insulinemic Responses: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Crossover Trials

• Published in: Nutrients 2023-05, Vol.15 (10), p.2383
• Main Authors: Tsitsou, Sofia, Athanasaki, Christina, Dimitriadis, George, Papakonstantinou, Emilia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Acute effects; Barley; Blood glucose; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body weight; Carbohydrates; Cardiovascular disease; Colon; Cross-Over Studies; Database searching; Dextrose; Diabetes; Diabetes therapy; Diet; Dietary Carbohydrates - metabolism; Dietary Fiber; Epidemiology; Fiber in human nutrition; Food; Fruits; Glucose; Glucose metabolism; Glycemic Index; glycemic responses; Humans; insoluble dietary fiber; Insulin; Insulin - metabolism; Insulin resistance; Insulin secretion; Internet/Web search services; Lignin; Metabolism; Nutrition; Obesity; Online searching; Physiological aspects; Physiology; Postprandial Period; Prevention; Resistant Starch; Small intestine; soluble dietary fiber; Starch; starchy foods; Systematic Review; Type 2 diabetes; Viscosity
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu15102383

Dietary fiber (DF) consumption has been associated with improved glycemic control in epidemiological and long-term interventional studies. However, its acute effects are not yet clear. This systematic review aims to elucidate the postprandial effects of DF in starchy products on glycemia and insulinemia. An electronic search of databases was conducted, and forty-one records met the inclusion criteria and underwent a risk-of-bias assessment. It was shown that soluble DF does not clearly affect glycemia in individuals with normal weight, while resistant starch may be more effective in flattening glycemic responses. Concerning insulinemia, both soluble DF and resistant starch have mixed results, with either favorable or no effects. Data on insoluble DF and glucose metabolism are scarce. The same mixed results for glycemia can be seen in healthy volunteers with overweight/obesity, while resistant starch seems to improve insulinemic responses. Finally, more studies need to examine the acute effects of DF in starchy foods on glucose metabolism and insulin secretion in individuals facing glucose abnormalities. Additionally, more studies are needed to prove whether ingesting high-fiber carbohydrate-containing products per se can result in blunted glycemic and insulinemic responses and which DF type and amount are more effective.