Psyllium improves glycemic control in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus

ObjectiveThis double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was designed to evaluate the effects of psyllium on fasting blood glucose (FBG) and HbA1c in patients being treated for type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Research design and methodsPatients were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 treatment groups: placebo, psyllium 3.4 g BID or psyllium 6.8 g BID (just prior to breakfast and dinner). Patients had a total of 9 clinic visits during the 20-week study period (8 weeks baseline, 12 weeks treatment). A total of 37 patients [12 females, 34 Caucasians, mean age 62 years] were enrolled (8 in the placebo group, 15 in the psyllium 3.4 g BID group and 14 in the psyllium 6.8 g BID group) and were included in the Intent-to-Treat analysis.ResultsBoth doses of psyllium significantly (p<0.05) lowered FBG compared to placebo at treatment weeks 4, 8, and 12. Psyllium 6.8 g BID significantly lowered HbA1c compared to placebo at Week 8 (−0.58±0.18, p=0.003), and both the 3.4 g dose and the 6.8 g dose of psyllium significantly (p<0.05) lowered HbA1c compared to placebo at Week 12 (−0.53±0.20, p=0.013; −0.65±0.20, p=0.003, respectively).ConclusionsThe improvement in glycemic control observed with psyllium in T2DM patients was above that already conferred by a restricted diet (all patients) and a stable dose of a sulfonylurea (81.1% of patients). These data support that psyllium is an effective co-therapy for improving glycemic control in patients being treated for T2DM. NCT01582282.

► Dose–response study to assess the effects of psyllium on glycemic control in type-2 diabetes.
► Both doses of psyllium significantly lowered fasting blood glucose at weeks 4, 8 and 12.
► Both doses of psyllium significantly lowered HbA1c versus placebo at Week 12.
► Psyllium improved glycemic control in patients already being treated for type-2 diabetes.