Cholesterol, High Cholesterol

Fiber-containing nutrition bars containing guar gum viscous fiber were found to decreased hunger and increased fullness in type 2 diabetics in this study (n=99). Participants ate 300-calorie candy bars for lunch and reported a 27.1% increase in fullness, a 15.8% decrease in food intake, and a 14.2% decrease in hunger two to four hours after the fiber-containing nutrition bars. Results indicate that guar gum may be a useful for managing type 2 diabetes by promoting weight loss. (141)

Guar gum, derived from guar beans, is an herbal medicine found to improve long-term control of blood sugar levels (glycemic control), measures of blood glucose after eating (postprandial glucose tolerance), and lipid (fat) concentrations in 15 individuals (aged 45-70 years old, 8 male) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Participants started on placebo for 8-weeks (period 1) followed by 42-weeks of daily guar gum (15 g) treatment and finishing with another 8-week placebo (period 2). Glycosylated HbA1 concentration, measure of blood sugar, significantly decreased from 9.0% during period 1 to 8.5% during guar gum treatment and remained at this level. A decrease of fasting blood sugar, though not significant, was also reported between period 1 and guar gum treatment (9.5 mmol/L and 9.2 mmol/L, respectively). Also, a significant increase to 10.4 mmol/L was reported between guar treatment and period 2. Compared to guar gum treatment, average total cholesterol during period 1 and period 2 were significantly reduce to 5.74 mmol/L and 6.61 mmol/L, respectively. LDL cholesterol fell significantly from 3.90 mmol/L during period 1 to 3.57 mmol/L during guar gum treatment. During period 2 the LDL cholesterol concentration increased to 4.32 mmol/L. Average HDL-cholesterol concentrations showed a steady non-significant increase during the study (period 1, 1.18 mmol/L; guar gum treatment, 1.26 mmol/L; period 2, 1.33). Some minor side-effects reported throughout the study included flatulence, loose stools, and a feeling of stomach discomfort. (42)