High viscosity fibre is known to exert many beneficial effects on appetite and metabolism. This study investigated the effects of the daily intake of a novel high viscosity polysaccharide (HVP) over three months in nondieting obese or overweight men and women. In this double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial, participants ingested 5-15 grams per day of either HVP (n = 29, experimental group) or inulin (n = 30, control group) for 15 weeks. Differences appeared between HVP and inulin supplementation in female participants only. Mean (SD) decreases in body weight [1.6 (3.2) kg] and hip circumference [2.8 (3.6) cm] occurred in women of the HVP group but not in controls (Time × Group interactions, P ≤ 0.002). Total, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoproteincholesterol were lower at the end of supplementation period in women of the HVP group compared to controls (P ≤ 0.021). No effect appeared in waist circumference and triacylglycerol levels and no differences were noted in the number or severity of the adverse effects reported in both groups. The authors concluded that beneficial although modest effects appeared after several weeks of daily HVP intake in nondieting obese or overweight women. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2011 Mar 18. PMID: 21414045.
