The influence of a high-fibre diet on body weight, serum lipids and blood pressure in slightly overweight persons. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation with diet and fibre tablets (DumoVital).

Sixty slightly overweight women were treated with a weight-reducing diet for 12 weeks in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. In addition to the diet 30 women received dietary fibre tablets, whereas the remaining 30 women received identical-looking placebo tablets. During the trial both groups experienced a significant reduction in body weight (P less than 0.01). The mean weight loss 8.5 kg (7.5-9.5 kg) in the fibre group was significantly higher than that of the placebo group 6.7 kg (4.8-8.0 kg) (P less than 0.01). Both serum triglyceride and serum cholesterol concentrations were significantly lowered (P less than or equal to 0.02) after treatment in both groups. No significant differences were detected between the groups. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly reduced (P less than 0.01) in the fibre group. No significant reduction in blood pressure was found in the placebo group. Side-effects, which were gastrointestinal in nature, were of low frequency. We conclude that supplementation with dietary fibre of the form used in this study is useful in the treatment of overweight women.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes