Dietary Fiber Supplementation Shows Promise in Reducing Blood Pressure for Type 2 Diabetes Patients
A recent secondary analysis of a randomized, double-blind clinical trial indicates that dietary fiber supplementation may significantly reduce systolic blood pressure in adults with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The study, published in Nutrients, involved 35 participants, with an average age of 51, 77% of whom were women. Participants received either 5 grams per day of soluble fiber (oat beta-glucan) or insoluble fiber (microcrystalline cellulose) for 12 weeks. Both groups experienced an average systolic blood pressure reduction of approximately 11 mmHg. The total daily fiber intake, including food sources, reached about 27 grams in both groups. However, the study did not include a placebo or untreated control group, meaning researchers cannot definitively conclude that the fiber supplementation directly caused the blood pressure reduction. The findings are considered exploratory and hypothesis-generating, suggesting a need for further controlled research.