Co-administration of a konjac-based fibre blend and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) on glycaemic control and serum lipids in type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled, cross-over clinical trial.

Abstract

Use of polypharmacy in the treatment of diabetes is the norm; nonetheless, optimal control is often not achieved. Konjac-glucomannan-based fibre blend (KGB) and American ginseng (AG) have individually been shown to improve glycaemia and CVD risk factors in type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine whether co-administration of KGB and AG could improve diabetes control beyond conventional treatment. Thirty-nine participants with type 2 diabetes (6.5>A1c<8.4%) were enrolled between January 2002 and May 2003 at the Risk Factor Modification Centre at St Michaels Hospital in a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial with each intervention lasting 12-weeks. Medications, diet and lifestyle were kept constant. Interventions consisted of 6g of fibre from KGB together with 3g of AG (KGB and AG) or wheat bran-based, fibre-matched control. Primary endpoint was the difference in HbA1c levels at week 12. Thirty participants (18M:12F; age: 64±7years; BMI: 28±5kg/m2; HbA1c: 7.0±1.0%) completed the study, and consumed 5.5 and 4.9g/day of fibre from KGB and wheat bran control, respectively, and 2.7g/day of AG. At week 12, HbA1c levels were 0.31% lower on the KGB and AG compared to control (p=0.011). Mean (±SEM) plasma lipids decreased on the KGB and AG vs control by 8.3±3.1% in LDL-C (p=0.002), 7.5±2.4% in non-HDL-C (p=0.013), 5.7±1.9% in total-C (p=0.012), 4.1±2.1% in total-C:HDL-C ratio (p=0.042), 9.0±2.3% in ApoB (p=0.0005) and 14.6±4.2% in ApoB:ApoA1 ratio (p=0.049). Co-administration of KGB and AG increases the effectiveness of conventional therapy through a moderate but clinically meaningful reduction in HbA1c and lipid concentrations over 12weeks in patients with type 2 diabetes. NCT02806349 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ ).