Are prebiotics beneficial for people with prediabetes? Original paper
In this meta-analysis of 10 randomized controlled trials in 546 adults with prediabetes, prebiotics generally did not affect glycemic control, body composition, or blood lipids.
This Study Summary was published on March 26, 2025.
The study
The prebiotic interventions mostly consisted of inulin or oligosaccharides at dosages ranging from 2 to 45 grams per day and lasted from 6 to 104 weeks.
Prebiotics did not affect glycemic outcomes or lipid outcomes. Although body fat decreased with prebiotics compared to the control group (−1.27%), this was primarily driven by 2 of the 5 studies included in the analysis, and the other body composition outcomes (BMI and waist circumference) were similar between the groups.
The risk of bias was high in 5 studies, unclear in 4 studies, and low in 1 study.
The quality of evidence was very low for the primary outcomes (glucose, insulin, and glycemic control), and some of the control groups received maltodextrin, which may not be an appropriate placebo in prebiotic studies.[1]
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This Study Summary was published on March 26, 2025.
References
- ^Almutairi R, Basson AR, Wearsh P, Cominelli F, Rodriguez-Palacios AValidity of food additive maltodextrin as placebo and effects on human gut physiology: systematic review of placebo-controlled clinical trials.Eur J Nutr.(2022 Sep)
- ^Hrubeniuk TJ, Bouchard DR, Goulet EDB, Gurd B, Sénéchal MThe ability of exercise to meaningfully improve glucose tolerance in people living with prediabetes: A meta-analysis.Scand J Med Sci Sports.(2020-Feb)
- ^Roy Taylor, Ambady Ramachandran, William S Yancy Jr, Nita G ForouhiNutritional basis of type 2 diabetes remissionBMJ.(2021 Jul 7)