Carbohydrates and Health

Isolated gums and gelling agent supplements and fasting blood insulin concentration
• No effect
• Moderate evidence
Mixed gums and gelling agents
Fasting blood lipids
A5.32 Four randomised controlled trials were identified that presented evidence on
mixed isolated gums and gelling agents and fasting blood lipid concentrations, all
of which were included in a meta-analysis (Haskell et al., 1992; Jensen et al., 1997;
Knopp et al., 1999; Salas-Salvado et al., 2008) No further trials were identified in
the update search (Cardio-metabolic review, hyperlipidaemias and blood lipids
chapter). One trial was a weight loss trial (Salas-Salvado et al., 2008). The trials
compared either acacia gum, a mixture of psyllium, pectin, guar gum, and locust
bean gum, guar gum and pectin, or psyllium and glucomannan, with a placebo.
A5.33 An effect is demonstrated for mixed isolated gums and gelling agent supplements
on reducing fasting total cholesterol concentration (-0.36mmol/L, 95% CI -0.50,
-0.23; p