| The objective of this study was to determine the impact of starch-entrapped microspheres (SM), a slowly-fermenting prebiotic, on both gut health and systemic health by investigating changes in markers of metabolic diseases. A randomized, double-blind, controlled study was conducted in 42 healthy participants. Participants consumed either 12 g psyllium fiber (control), 9 g SM, or 12 g SM for three months. Stool and blood samples were collected at baseline and posttreatment to analyze markers of systemic health [weight, body mass index (BMI), glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), insulin sensitivity, and beta cell function] and gut health [neutral sterols, microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA)]. Weight and BMI increased significantly by 1.8% (p=0.01) and 2.4% (p=0.01) in psyllium group when compared to the 9 g SM and 12 g SM groups. Glucose decreased significantly by 9.2% in the 12 g SM group (p=0.047) when compared to the psyllium and 9 g SM groups. No significant changes in any other parameters were seen. Cholestanol and total neutral sterols were significantly different at post-treatment, decreasing in all treatment groups for both variables, but post hoc analysis was unable to detect where the differences were between the treatment groups. Further research in needed to determine if the 12 g SM dose is capable of impacting gut and systemic health unlike that of psyllium or 9 g SM supplementation and if this difference can be mediated mechanistically through changes in gut microbiota and SCFA production. |
