Health benefits of konjac glucomannan with special focus on diabetes

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common non-communicable diseases worldwide. The incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes is on rise due to population growth, aging, urbanization, and well-known risk factors like obesity, smoking, unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity. Effective dietary strategies have an influence on decreasing postprandial plasma glucose burden, including the use of high fiber and low glycemic index diets. Dietary fiber has the ability to improve insulin sensitivity in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Soluble fiber improves satiety by providing bulk and increasing digestion time to slow postprandial glucose uptake, thereby producing lower blood glucose and insulin levels. Glucomannan, a soluble fiber derived from Amorphophallus konjac increases transit time of food and prolongs gastric emptying time, which increases satiety, reduces body weight, decreases the ingestion of foods that increase cholesterol and glucose concentrations, reduces the postprandial rise in plasma glucose, suppresses hepatic cholesterol synthesis, and increases the fecal elimination of cholesterol containing bile acids. The aim of the present study was to review the role of dietary fiber in treatment of diabetes with special focus on konjac glucomannan (KGM) to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the health benefits of KGM.