Effects of Four Different Dietary Fibre Supplements on Weight Loss and Lipid and Glucose Serum Profiles during Energy Restriction in Patients with Traits of Metabolic Syndrome: A Comparative, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

Abstract

Obesity and its associated complications require various lifestyle changes and treatment options. Dietary supplements are considered an attractive alternative to traditional therapy, mainly because they are accessible to the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate the additive effects of a combination of energy restriction (ER) and four dietary supplements on changes in the anthropometric and biochemical parameters in 100 overweight or obese participants who were randomly assigned one of the dietary fibre supplements containing different dietary fibres or a placebo for 8 weeks. The results confirmed that fibre supplements plus ER significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the body weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass, and visceral fat and ameliorated the lipid profile and inflammation at 4 and 8 weeks after the start of the study, while in the placebo group, significant differences in some parameters were observed only after 8 weeks of ER. A fibre supplement containing glucomannan, inulin, psyllium, and apple fibre was the most effective at reducing the BMI, body weight, and CRP (p = 0.018 for BMI and body weight and p = 0.034 for CRP compared to placebo at the end of the intervention). Overall, the results suggest that dietary fibre supplements in combination with ER may have additional effects on weight loss and the metabolic profile. Therefore, taking dietary fibre supplements may be a feasible approach to improve weight and metabolic health in obese and overweight individuals.