Abstract P217: Metabolic Effects of a Nutrient-Dense High Fiber Supplement

Abstract

Achieving recommended dietary intakes of vitamins and minerals, fiber, and other health-promoting small molecules, such as fruit polyphenolics and essential fatty acids, is difficult, even for healthy adults consuming generally good diets. We assessed the hypothesis that short term consumption of a comprehensive nutrition bar can favorably impact metabolic biomarkers linked to future disease risk. Methods: An approximately 100 kcal nutrition bar containing a vitamin, mineral, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-fortified polyphenolic-rich whole food matrix composed of fruit, walnuts, and dark chocolate blended with insoluble and soluble fiber was developed. Pooled results are presented from 3 pilot trials in which 25 generally healthy adults (15 F, 10 M) were enrolled in 2-wk interventions to study the effect of twice-daily consumption of the bar on plasma lipoprotein subfractions (ion mobility analysis), and redox status (thiol amino acids) in addition to conventional biomarkers associated with dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and inflammation. All variables were continuous, and paired t-tests were used to test for significant change between baseline and follow-up measures. Results: Mean HDL cholesterol increased by 6.6 + 9.7% ( p = 0.001), predominantly due to a rise in the large buoyant HDL2b subclass which rose from 1665.9 ± 1017.7 to 2089.4 ± 1197.6 nmol/L ( p < 0.0001; 28% increase). Plasma triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels did not change significantly but there was a trend towards increased LDL peak particle diameter (p = 0.086). Mean plasma homocysteine decreased from 12.6 ± 6.4 to 10.2 ± 3.7 µM (p=0.006, 19.2% decline). Measures of insulin resistance and inflammation did not change. Weight remained stable despite intake of 200 additional daily calories. Participants reported a significant decrease in hunger on an analog scale and compensatory decreased intake of other foods. Summary: Twice daily consumption of a low-calorie complete nutritional supplement increases satiety and large HDL particle concentrations within 2 weeks without weight gain.