Chronic consumption of short-chain fructooligosaccharides does not affect basal hepatic glucose production or insulin resistance in type 2 diabetics

Short-chain fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are prebiotics, which escape diges tion in the small intestine and are fermented by the colonic microflora int o short-chain fatty acids. Recently, we found that the daily consumption of 20 g FOS decreased basal hepatic glucose production in healthy subjects wi thout any effect on insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism. In this study, w e evaluated the effects of the chronic ingestion of FOS on plasma lipid and glucose concentrations, hepatic glucose production and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetics. Type 2 diabetic volunteers (n = 10; 6 men, 4 women) re ceived either 20 g/d FOS or sucrose for 4 wk in a double-blind crossover de sign. FOS did not modify fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations or basal hepatic glucose production. The plasma glucose response to a fixed exogenous insulin bolus did not differ at the end of the two periods. Eryt hrocyte insulin binding also did not differ. Serum triacylglycerol, total a nd HDL cholesterol, free fatty acid, apolipoproteins Al and B and lipoprote in (a) concentrations were not modified by the chronic ingestion of FOS. We conclude that 4 wk of 20 g/d of FOS had no effect on glucose and lipid met abolism in type 2 diabetics.