Work

Metabolic and Antioxidant Status, Telomere Lengths of Individuals With Prediabetes in Context of 3 Months of Insoluble Dietary Fibre Intake During the SARS ‐ CoV2 Pandemic

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Insoluble fibre (IF) may reduce the risk factors of type 2 diabetes development, but evidence on its short-term effects is limited. The influence of IF on oxidative stress markers, including reduced glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes, as well as on leukocyte telomere length (LTL), remains poorly studied. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurring before or during IF interventions may influence study outcomes. METHODS: The study included 29 adults with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) who received 15 g/day of IF for 3 months. Seven participants had a recent history of COVID-19, defined as PCR-confirmed infection within 6 months before the intervention or COVID-19-like symptoms during the study. Fasting plasma glucose, 2-h plasma glucose (2hPG) during a WHO oral glucose tolerance test, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and GSH were assessed at baseline and after 3 months. Fat mass (FM), blood pressure (BP), LTL, superoxide dismutase and catalase (CAT) were also measured. RESULTS: In participants without COVID-19 (n = 22), IF intake was associated with reductions in 2hPG, HbA1c, FM and GSH, along with an increase in systolic BP. In the COVID-19 group (n = 7), HbA1c decreased, while both systolic and diastolic BP increased. No significant changes in LTL, superoxide dismutase or CAT levels were observed in either group. CONCLUSION: Short-term IF supplementation in individuals with IFG improved selected glycaemic parameters but was accompanied by unexpected reductions in GSH and increases in blood pressure. These findings indicate complex physiological responses to IF that warrant further investigation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04283201.

Source: Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism

DOI: 10.1002/edm2.70210