Journal of Clinical Trials
Open Access

Abstract

Effect of Inulin from Agave tequilana Weber Blue Variety on the Metabolic Profile of Overweight and Obese Dyslipidemic Patients

Ofelia Hernández-González, Rosa Itzel Bricio-Ramírez, Maria Guadalupe Ramos-Zavala, Ana Bertha Zavalza-Gómez, Ernesto Germán Cardona- Muñoz, Leonel García-Benavides, Esperanza Martínez-Abundis and Sara Pascoe-González

Agave inulin is non-digestible/fermentable carbohydrates capable of counteracting metabolic related alterations through the modification of the gut microbiota. The fructo-oligosaccharide content of agave inulin differs from inulin extracted from chicory root. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of agave inulin on the metabolic profile of overweight and obese dyslipidemic patients. An open clinical trial was carried out in 30 overweight and obese subjects, between 30 and 70 years old. All subjects received 15 g/day of inulin in the morning, during 60 days. Biochemical and metabolic profiles before and after pharmacological intervention were performed. After inulin administration, it was statistically significant decrease: fasting glucose levels (83.1 ± 13.4 vs. 76.5 ± 12.6 mg/dl; p=0.006), triglycerides and glucose (TyG) index (3.9 ± 0.1 vs. 3.8 ± 0.2; p=0.021) and urea (31.4 ± 8.6 vs. 26.3 ± 5.4 mg/dl; p=0.001), thus an increase in sodium levels (139.3 ± 3.0 vs.140.4 ± 2.1 mg/dl; p=0.021), was also found. Similarly, eventhough no statistical differences were detected for all cases, the serum concentration decreased 37% for total cholesterol (TC), 23% for LDL -c, 53% for total triglycerides (TG) and 63.3% for HBA1c while HDL-c levels increased. Anthropometric parameters did not change within the group and the soluble fiber intake did not produce any important gastrointestinal adverse effects. In this study, the increased fiber intake of inulin from Agave tequilana Weber blue variety was effective and safe in reducing glucose and urea levels as well as insulin resistance in overweight and obese dyslipidemic patients; however, sodium levels were increased but were not clinically significant.