Dietary fiber: Effect on glycemic control and on the metabolism of carbohydrate and fat

Abstract

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is still on the rise, to the point of currently being considered an epidemic. It is estimated that the number of new cases will duplicate up to 270 million cases by year 2010. Since the discovery of insulin, the recommendation on the contribution of carbohydrates to the diet of diabetic patients has varied considerably, from a severe restriction of carbohydrates to a intake ranging from 60% to 75% of the total caloric intake, and the addition of high-fiber polysaccharides. The role of dietary fiber in the diabetic is specially aimed to improve the glycemic control, by modifying the postprandial hyperglycemic peaks and improving the lipidic profile. In this review, the current dietary recommendations in the management of diabetes mellitus are discussed, as well as the benefits of the dietary fiber in the glycemic control and its effects in the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids.