Glucose- and Lipid-Related Biomarkers Are Affected in Healthy Obese or Hyperglycemic Adults Consuming a Whole-Grain Pasta Enriched in Prebiotics and Probiotics: A 12-Week Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background Synbiotic foods, which combine the action of prebiotics and probiotics along the gastrointestinal tract, can affect inflammatory and glucose-related markers. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effects on inflammatory and glycemia-related markers of a whole-grain pasta containing barley β-glucans and Bacillus coagulans BC30, 6086 in healthy overweight or obese volunteers. Methods A single-blind, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled dietary intervention study was carried out. Forty-one healthy sedentary overweight (body mass index [BMI] 25–29.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥30) volunteers, aged 30–65 y and low consumers of fruit and vegetables, ate 1 serving/d of whole-grain control (CTR) or innovative (INN) pasta for 12 wk and maintained their habitual diets. Biological samples were collected at baseline and every 4 wk for primary (plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP] and fasting plasma lipid profile) and secondary outcomes (glycemia-related markers, blood pressure, fecal microbiota composition, and body weight). Between (CTR compared with INN) and within (among weeks) group differences were tested for the whole population and for subgroups stratified by baseline values of BMI (≥30) and glycemia (≥100 mg/dL). Results INN or CTR pasta consumption had no effect on primary and secondary outcomes over time, except for a significant increase in plasma γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) after 12 wk of CTR pasta consumption. Comparisons between intervention groups revealed differences only at 12 wk: plasma GGT was higher in the CTR group; plasma hs-CRP, plasma LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio, and Bifidobacterium spp. were lower in the INN subgroup of obese volunteers; plasma resistin was lower and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii abundance was higher in the INN subgroup of hyperglycemic volunteers. Conclusions A daily serving of a synbiotic whole-grain pasta had limited effects on primary and secondary outcomes in the entire group of volunteers but affected glycemia- and lipid-related markers and resistin in a subgroup of healthy obese or hyperglycemic volunteers. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02236533.

Whole-grain consumption and its effects on hepatic steatosis and liver enzymes in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomised controlled clinical trial

“…These results are also consistent with results of previous studies that reported the beneficial effects of whole grains on blood pressure (37,38) . Contrary to our study, Angelino et al (14) found no significant variations in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, probably because of low consumption of daily whole grains. The beneficial effects of whole grains on blood pressure could be explained by potential bioactivity of micronutrients such as Ca, Mg, Zn, K and vitamin D (31) .…”

“…The lipid profile results of the present analyses are in line with the Framingham Offspring Cohort Study that showed whole-grain foods were related to lower LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol concentrations and not to HDL-cholesterol or TAG concentrations (14) . The Tehran, Lipid and Glucose Study with 827 men and women revealed that intake of traditional Iranian whole-grain foods was associated with lower TAG concentrations but not with any other lipid variables (11) .…”

“…Tovar et al (15) observed a significant decrease in γ-glutamyltransferase concentrations after consumption of whole-grain barley product supplementation, compared with a control diet, in overweight women. The results of study conducted by Angelino et al (14) , however, showed that whole-grain consumption for 12 weeks had no effect on liver enzymes. The discrepancy was probably due to an approximate doubling in total daily fibre intake in the study by Tovar et al (15) .…”

“…On the other hand, a large cohort study showed a negative significant correlation between whole-grain intake and hyperlipidaemia and insulin resistance (13) . Similarly, some previous studies have suggested that whole-grain foods may improve glucose and lipid biomarkers in healthy obese or hyperglycaemic adults (14) . Many randomised controlled trials have also evaluated the effects of whole-grain products on blood glucose concentrations and serum lipids, but they have found inconsistent results (15)(16)(17)(18) .…”

Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Comprehensive Review

“…Generally, beneficial prebiotics includes polyols (sugar alcohols), oligosaccharides, and soluble fiber (141). Synbiotics are the synergistic combination of probiotics and prebiotics found in foods, drugs, and supplements (142)(143)(144). The main microbialderived metabolites are postbiotics, including bile acids, shortchain fatty acids, and tryptophan metabolites (145).…”