Acacia(sen) SUPERGUM™ (Gum arabic): An evaluation of potential health benefits in human subjects

Abstract

This study evaluated the cardiovascular and renal effects of dietary fibre supplementation with Acacia(sen) SUPERGUM™ (gum arabic) in normal individuals and a group of diabetic nephropaths. The normal diet was supplemented with 25 g of SUPERGUM™ daily for a period of 8–12 weeks. For the whole cohort dietary supplementation with SUPERGUM™ resulted in a fall in mean systolic blood pressure [SBP] (138.4 ± 18.9 mmHg to 132.83 ± 15.9 mmHg p = 0.01). Of note was a significant fall in SBP seen in normal individuals who neither had hypertension nor diabetes (129.1 ± 8.3 mmHg vs 123.6 ± 11.5 mmHg, n = 10 p = 0.02). Parameters of arterial stiffness were examined in patients with diabetic nephropathy and a fall in MAP. In this subgroup there was a significant fall in both central systolic and diastolic blood pressures, with no alterations in AI, AI @75 or PWV. This suggests that the beneficial effects of SUPERGUM™ on blood pressure are not the result of alterations in arterial stiffness. There were no effects of SUPERGUM™ on renal function and haemodynamics in patients with diabetic nephropathy. In contrast a reversible change in GFR (113.0 ml min vs 99.4 ml/min, p = 0.02) and ERPF (489.7 ml/min vs 463.0 ml/min, p = 0.04) was shown in the population of healthy volunteers. The key finding of this study is the a significant beneficial effect of dietary supplementation with SUPERGUM™ on blood pressure which is seen in both a patient group with diabetes and mild renal involvement as well as in a normal healthy normotensive cohort.