Effect of Psyllium husk fiber and lifestyle modification on human body insulin resistance

Abstract

Insulin resistance is a metabolic disorder that is increasing worldwide and is associated with some of the most common diseases affecting modern societies including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and coronary heart disease. Changes in diet and physical activity have a profound effect on lowering the risk and cost of managing insulin resistance compared to the pharmacological approach. An interventional study of 16 weeks explored the effect of Psyllium husk fiber in combination with lifestyle modification on insulin resistance among the centrally obese school teachers of district Malakand Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. One Hundred twenty school teachers with central obesity, aged 40-60 years, with no chronic disease history were divided into four subgroups (n = 30) with equal gender bifurcation; a control group, lifestyle modification (LSM) group, psyllium husk fiber (PSH) group, and the combined intervention of LSM & PSH group. Fasting serum was collected to analyze fasting blood glucose, and insulin resistance by using the HOMA-IR method at baseline and post-intervention. A significant effect of the intervention was observed on fasting blood glucose. The combined group of LSM&PSH showed the highest mean change of −7.5 ± 2.6 mg/dl (−9%), followed by the PSH group with a mean change of −6.3 ± 2.1 mg/dl, (−7%). Likewise a significant effect (P < 0.05) on HOMA-IR was observed in the combined group of LSM&PSH with a mean of 1.02 ± 0.14 molar units (−58%), followed by the PSH group with a mean of 1.55 ± 0.14 molar units (−33%). The current study was carried out to assess the effect of regular consumption of Psyllium husk fiber in combination with lifestyle modification on insulin resistance and fasting blood glucose.