Resistant dextrin, as a prebiotic, improves insulin resistance and inflammation in women with type 2 diabetes: a randomised controlled clinical trial.

Randomized controlled clinical trial in women with type 2 diabetes conducted in Tabriz, Iran, at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences between December 2011 and February 2012. The resistant dextrin arm included 30 participants; mean age was 49.2 years and mean BMI was 31.8 kg/m2.

Resistant dextrin (NUTRIOSE w 06FM; Roquette) was given orally at 10 g/day for 8 weeks, as two 5 g packets taken with breakfast and dinner with water. The active regimen was compared with maltodextrin placebo.

Resistant dextrin improved insulin resistance and lowered several inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers, but it did not significantly improve fasting glucose or HbA1c versus placebo. In the active arm, fasting insulin decreased by 20.1 pmol/l, HOMA-IR decreased by 1.3, QUICKI increased by 0.2, IL-6 decreased by 1.4 pg/ml, TNF-alpha decreased by 5.4 pg/ml, MDA decreased by 1.2 nmol/ml, and endotoxin decreased by 6.2 endotoxin units/ml. FPG decreased by 0.05 mmol/l, HbA1c decreased by 0.5%, and hs-CRP decreased by 2.7 ng/ml, but these changes were not significant compared with maltodextrin. No adverse events were reported.

Small single-center trial with only 30 women in the active arm and an 8-week duration, which limits precision and generalizability. Clinical glycemic outcomes were not significantly improved, and dietary intake changed during the study, creating potential confounding.