A comparative study on the effects of wheat bran and ispaghula on serum lipids and fasting blood sugar in type 2 diabetic patients

In this study, the effects of wheat bran (insoluble) and ispaghula (soluble) seeds on serum lipids and FBS have been compared in type 2 diabetic patients.In a cross over study, 14 type 2 diabetic patients, treated with diet alone, were randomly placed on isocaloric diets containing either wheat bran (7 patients) or ispaqhula(12 grams/day in both groups) for 3 weeks. After a 10-day wash-out period, dietary fiber supplementation was exchanged and diets were continued for 3 weeks again. Weight, FBS, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL were measured before and after the study. Food records and the differences observed in serum variables were analyzed using Willcoxon non- parametric method and paired t-test respectively. P<0.05 was considered significant.The participants were 4 men and 10 women aged 45±1 years (BMI= 23±1.9 kg/m²). Both wheat bran and ispaghula increased the serum HDL (P<0.01 and P<0.001 respectively). Serum LDL was decreased after consumption of ispaghula (P<0.02).Our results show that dietary intake of fibers, especially in soluble from, can improve lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients.